Hardik Pandya In Action For India - (Source : @Johns/X.com)
In a significant development in Indian cricket, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has checked in at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he is set to undergo several fitness Tests. There are no injury concerns, but the MI star hasn't played cricket in a long time, and an assessment is necessary ahead of Asia Cup squad selection.
Hardik Goes To The NCA
The prestigious eight-team event will kickstart on September 9, and India's squad is expected to be out in the third week of August. A lot of spots are up for grabs, but few players are certain, including Hardik Pandya. The 31-year-old will undergo his tests on August 11 and August 12 as reported by Times of India.
Talking about assessment Tests, Pandya is not the only fit Indian to prove his fitness, as Shreyas Iyer too had undergone a similar test between July 27 and 29.
Hardik is joined by Suryakumar Yadav at the NCA, who recently underwent a sports hernia surgery and is rehabilitating in Bengaluru. Further, SKY has started net sessions at the NCA and is expected to stay there for a week.
Major Shake-Up For Asia Cup Squad Expected
The recent update regarding the Asia Cup 2025 squad is that Shreyas Iyer will make a return to the T20I set-up, while Shubman Gill too will be brought back for the shortest format of the game. Also, Gill will be India's vice-captain in the upcoming continental Cup.
Hardik Pandya is a certainty, which is why the BCCI wants him to be fully fit for the mega-event. Talking about the potential squad, Sanju Samson's place is also not guarenteed as he faces tough competition from Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel.
In the spin department, Varun Chakravarthy is for sure there alongside Ravi Bishnoi. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel's spots are still not sure in the team.
