Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder who played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, has reportedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to not include him in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.
The reason stated for his absence is personal, which has left fans and cricket followers speculating about the underlying causes.
This sudden announcement of pulling out from the series has raised several questions, particularly those related to Pandya’s fitness and personal life.
As there are divorce rumors of Hardik Pandya-Natasa Stankovic. Some are saying that divorce settlement will happen and some have different views. However, the exact details remain undisclosed, leaving room for speculation.
The three-match ODI series is scheduled to take place in August, following the T20I series which begins on July 27. Pandya is expected to lead the Indian team in the T20I series, with Suryakumar Yadav likely to be named the vice-captain.
The BCCI is concerned about Pandya’s fitness, and they have already received positive feedback about Suryakumar’s captaincy style from the team. Pandya had previously led India in 31 matches, with 22 victories and 9 defeats.
Hardik Pandya was a key player for India in T20 World Cup 2024. He demonstrated his all-around skills by taking 11 wickets, including an important three-wicket performance in the final against South Africa. With the bat, Hardik scored 144 runs, averaging 48.
Other players from India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad, such as Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh, are expected to return to action during the Sri Lanka tour.
However, senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja, who have retired from T20Is, will not be included in the ODI squad.
The Sri Lanka tour will also mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the new head coach, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Gambhir has reportedly urged senior players like Rohit, Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to be available for the ODI series, as he wants a full-strength squad.