Ex-captain of India team Kapil Dev has come up with an interesting analysis of Hardik Pandya’s injury woes, saying that the all-rounder should play more competitive matches in order to boost his match fitness level.

Pandya is considered one of the most vital elements of India’s limited overs team but has faced a lot of interruptions due to the constant injury problems. The load of the player has been kept light over the past few years, keeping in mind the injury problem that Pandya has been suffering from for a long period of time.

Talking about Pandya’s match fitness level, Kapil Dev is quoted to have told the 33-year-old all-rounder to spend more time on cricket ground instead of sitting out for long durations.
The fact that Pandya is able to contribute from both ends with his bat and ball means that the fitness of the player plays a pivotal role in the case of India. Pandya adds balance to the playing eleven as he provides the team with a pace-bowling option alongside being able to play aggressive innings from the middle-order.

The fitness issues of the all-rounder came into limelight especially when he got seriously injured at his ankle during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pandya was unavailable due to this issue for quite some time. While the all-rounder made his comeback in the international cricket, he had to deal with several fitness problems and injuries.

The fitness problems have become a major issue for the all-rounder because of the fact that his bowling is the key to his contribution to the side.

The comments of Kapil Dev emphasize the need to build up one’s match fitness by playing cricket rather than training. The physical fitness required by an all-rounder could be evaluated only in the match conditions.
Having some big international tours coming up, fitness will always be a topic when speaking about Pandya. Provided he continues to handle his load successfully, India will definitely have one of their best all-rounders at their disposal.