Hardik Pandya, an all-rounder, will miss the start of the Ranji Trophy on February 10. He’ll get ready to return to the Indian ODI and T20 squads. In Hardik’s absence, Kedar Deodhar has been appointed captain of the Baroda team. Vishnu Solanki has been appointed as the team’s vice-captain. The Baroda Cricket Association named a 20-man squad for the tournament’s first leg on Monday. This team does not have Hardik’s name on it.
Hardik hasn’t played a cricket match since the T20 World Cup last year. He is unavailable for selection in the national team due to a back injury. Since 2018, the 28-year-old hasn’t played a Test or a four-day match. He has admitted that the injury has hampered his performance in the longest format of cricket on numerous occasions.
From IPL 2022 onwards, Hardik will be able to return to the field. He will be in charge of CVC’s franchise in Ahmedabad. Hardik will be captaining the team for the first time. Last week, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly expressed his optimism that Hardik will play in the Ranji Trophy.
What did Ganguly have to say about it?
“Hardik was injured, and he was given time off to fully recover so that he could serve Indian cricket for a long time,” Ganguly said. In the beginning, I’m sure I’ll give him a few Ranji Trophy matches.” I’ll be watching it unfold. I’m hoping he bowls more overs and strengthens his body.”
What is Hardik’s plan for a comeback?
IPL offers Hardik Pandya a chance to rejoin the Indian team. The IPL’s 15th season is set to begin in the last week of March. This time, Hardik will lead the Ahmedabad team as captain. In such a situation, he will be able to make changes to the team as he sees fit and bat in the order he desires based on the situation. Hardik could be given a chance in the Indian team for the series against South Africa if he performs well under his captaincy and finishes the match with responsibility.
Krunal is part of Baroda’s team.
Kunal Pandya, Hardik’s brother, has been named to the Baroda squad. The Ranji Trophy was not held last year due to the Corona epidemic. The tournament was supposed to begin on January 13, but it was postponed due to an increase in corona cases in the country. The tournament will now be split into two parts, with the first beginning on Thursday and running through March 15 at various locations across the country. After that, the tournament will be paused due to the IPL, and it will resume once the IPL is finished. The Ranji Trophy’s second leg will take place from May 30 to June 26.
Baroda’s Ranji Trophy squad for the first leg
Dhruv Patel, Mitesh Patel, Lukman Meriwala, Babasfikhan Pathan (wk), Atit Sheth, Bhargava Bhatt, Parth Kohli, Shashwat Rawat, Soyb Sopariya, Karthik Kakade, Gurjinder Singh Mann, Jyotsnil Singh, Ninad Rathwa, Akshay More, Kedar Dhewadhar, V
