According to the Indian Express, Hardik Pandya must provide an undertaking that he will participate in the Syed Mushtaq Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, which are the two premier domestic competitions, to avoid being removed from the central contracts list. The selectors and the BCCI decided to award the Baroda-based player a Grade A contract after he provided assurance, despite discussions about the all-rounder, who has yet to play any matches in domestic tournaments. Hardik will return to playing white-ball matches in the two upcoming competitions if he has no international commitments.
He injured his ankle during the ICC World Cup 2023 in India and did not play any games until last week when he participated in the DY Patil T20 tournament. Like Ishan, Pandya has been training individually, but what has worked in his favour is that he has been regularly visiting the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for assessment.
A BCCI official told The Indian Express:
“We had discussions with Pandya, who has been told to participate in white-ball tournaments when he is not playing for India. According to the medical staff, he is not in a position to play red-ball matches. However, he will have to play white-ball cricket for his state. If he fails to report for the games, he will not be offered a new contract.”
India will only play three T20Is against Bangladesh at home due to a busy Test schedule, as outlined in the Future Tours Programme. During October and November, there are no white-ball matches scheduled, with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy taking place instead. Pandya has been instructed to participate in these two tournaments.