Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised all-rounder Hardik Pandya to maintain peak fitness and play regularly, drawing inspiration from his recent heroics in the ICC T20 World Cup, where India ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought. Despite being a frontrunner to succeed Rohit Sharma as T20I captain after serving as vice-captain during the victorious campaign, Pandya was listed only as a player for the current tour of Sri Lanka, with Suryakumar Yadav named captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar attributed the decision to Pandya's fitness issues, emphasising the need for reliable availability. In a recent episode of The ICC Review, Shastri highlighted the importance of match fitness for Pandya, urging him to participate in as many T20Is as possible. He suggested that consistent bowling in one-day games could secure Pandya's place in the team.
Pandya has struggled with injuries since 2018, including a significant back injury during the Asia Cup that year, which required surgery and rehabilitation. Most recently, he suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which sidelined him until the T20 World Cup. Upon his return, Pandya impressed with his all-round performance, scoring 144 runs at an average of 48.00 and taking 11 wickets, including crucial performances in the final against South Africa.
Shastri believes that Pandya's recent success should serve as motivation for him to regain full fitness, noting that Pandya understands his body best and should not need external motivation. He emphasised that Pandya's ability to perform at crucial moments should inspire him to maintain top physical condition.