Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan
The Indian cricket team is currently playing a 5-match Test series on Australia tour while the domestic cricket season is going on in India. Jai Hazare Trophy is currently being played in domestic cricket, in which many big names of Team India are participating. This tournament started from 21st December and now after 1 week has passed, the star Indian player is going to enter this tournament. This star player is Hardik Pandya who will be seen playing in the 50 over tournament for Baroda from 28th December.
The Baroda team led by Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya is currently in Hyderabad and will face Bengal on Saturday. Baroda has played two matches so far in the domestic ODI competition and has won both. Baroda defeated Tripura in the first round match and then Kerala in the second round match. The match with Bengal will be their third round match after a gap of five days. Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) secretary Ajit Lele told Cricbuzz on Friday night that he had some personal issues and that is why he was not available for the first few matches. They have reached Hyderabad and will play tomorrow.
Pandya’s magic will be seen in domestic cricket
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee have made it clear that every cricketer will have to participate in domestic competitions unless advised rest or exempted. Pandya has not played a single 50-over match since suffering an ankle injury during the World Cup in October last year. In the last 14 months, Pandya has played 38 matches, all of which were T20 matches. Apart from T20Is, he participated in IPL matches and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMT).
A chance to show strength before the Champions Trophy
Pandya’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 is very important as the Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held (in February-March). There is a possibility that the selectors will keep an eye on him in Hyderabad also. 31-year-old Hardik Pandya was recently seen playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, in which his team Baroda reached the semi-finals. Apart from scoring 246 runs in seven matches, he also took 6 wickets in his bag.
