Factors Leading to Hardik Pandya upgrade to Grade A in the BCCI contracts
The decision to promote Hardik Pandya to a Grade A contract by the BCCI has prompted numerous queries, with former cricketers and fans raising concerns about the board’s decision in light of Pandya’s consistent absence from domestic tournaments across various formats.
This development has garnered significant attention, particularly considering that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were excluded from central contracts despite having played more domestic games than Pandya in recent years.
The BCCI’s recent announcement of central contracts has sparked considerable discussion, and the omission of Iyer and Kishan without clarification has been a notable surprise.
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Another focal point of discussion is Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in Grade A. Despite recovering from the ankle injury sustained during the previous year’s World Cup, Pandya’s participation in the DY Patil Tournament alongside Ishan Kishan has raised eyebrows.
Criticism regarding preferential treatment for Pandya has been widespread, as he consistently bypasses domestic series, even when fit, often prioritizing white-ball cricket, particularly the IPL.
Despite Pandya’s outstanding all-round skills, treating him differently than others raises concerns about setting the right example within the team. The decision becomes even more questionable when compared to the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who have played more domestic games than Pandya in recent years.
In response to these concerns, a top BCCI source has revealed that board officials have engaged in discussions with Pandya. According to the source, Pandya has given assurances of participating in domestic white-ball tournaments during his breaks.
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The BCCI has taken a firm stance to uphold the quality of domestic tournaments, directing Pandya to feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy later in the year.
This directive is based on the assessment by the BCCI’s medical team, indicating that Pandya is not currently fit to bowl in red-ball tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy. Failure to fulfill this commitment puts Pandya at risk of losing his contract.
During his absence due to an ankle injury, Pandya trained individually in Vadodara, along with Ishan Kishan. The Indian Express reports that Pandya regularly reported to the NCA, where his fitness was assessed, ultimately working in his favor and leading to his national contract
