On one hand, the Indian team will be on the field to play a Test match against Australia in Perth from November 22, while a day later, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will also be seen in action. Hardik Pandya, who has been out of the Test team for a long time, will be seen showing his magic not in Australia but in India only. No, Team India is not going to play any ODI or T20 series, rather Hardik Pandya is coming back to play domestic cricket after a break of a few years. Hardik is returning to his home team Baroda for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy starting from November 23, where he will play under the captaincy of his elder brother Krunal Pandya.
In a report of the English newspaper Times of India, it has been revealed that right-arm fast bowling-all-rounder Hardik Pandya is available for this T20 tournament and in such a situation, he naturally got a place in the squad. Hardik's return will provide immense strength to Baroda, who have made a great start in the Ranji Trophy this season. Last season, the team had missed winning the Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had to face defeat in the final. Hardik was then away from cricket action due to injury. Hardik is returning to this tournament after 8 years. He last participated in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2016.
In this major T20 tournament of BCCI's domestic cricket starting from November 23, Baroda has been placed in Group B along with Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim and two neighbors Saurashtra and Gujarat. Baroda's first match will be against Gujarat, which will be played at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Hardik Pandya is expected to be available for the entire tournament, which will end with the final on December 15. During this period, Team India will not have to play any white ball series or tournament. In such a situation, this tournament will prove to be important in helping Hardik remain match fit and prepare for the upcoming challenges. After this, Hardik will return from the ODI and T20 series against England in January 2025.
Hardik's playing in this tournament is considered to be a part of the BCCI order which the Indian Board has issued for the players of the national team this year. Earlier this year, the board had dropped Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract for not playing Ranji Trophy. At the same time, BCCI had also talked to Hardik Pandya and according to reports, Hardik had assured the board officials that he will play limited overs tournaments like Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the coming domestic season, after which the board allowed him. Was maintained in A grade only in the central contract.
