Hardik Pandya faces criticism for limited domestic appearances

Hardik Pandya is set to play in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda, with BCCI selectors closely monitoring his bowling fitness in 50-over cricket. Pandya has often faced criticism for not appearing in domestic matches.

The last time Hardik played T20 cricket for Baroda was in 2016, and his last first-class game for them was in 2018. His sporadic appearances in domestic cricket have drawn criticism from former Baroda coach Dav Whatmore, known for coaching teams like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. Whatmore, who coached Baroda during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, missed having one of the city's best players in the team.

"There's still some individuals who don't play white-ball cricket. For example, in my last few years in Baroda, Hardik Pandya wouldn't ever play white-ball cricket. It always amuses me that he's termed as the all-rounder from Baroda but he hasn't played for Baroda for years! So, yes, there are some who don't do that," Whatmore said while talking on a YouTube channel.

Whatmore added that the BCCI is keen on players participating in all formats, including the Ranji Trophy, to ensure cricket is seen as a sport with diverse demands.

"But recently, I've seen that the BCCI have been keen that players participate in the Ranji Trophy as well as other two formats to ensure they see cricket as sports. Efforts are made to make sure 4-day cricket is not neglected," he further added. 

Despite his limited domestic appearances, Hardik has been a regular in the Indian Premier League since his debut in 2015 and a crucial player for the Indian team in limited-overs cricket. He played a key role in India's T20 World Cup-winning campaign. Hardik is part of India's squad for the upcoming T20I tour of Sri Lanka but has been stripped of vice-captaincy. He will not feature in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.