Aakash Chopra hits again at critics wondering Hardik Pandya’s Grade A BCCI central contract

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The new announcement of Board of Keep watch over for Cricket in India (BCCI)‘s centrally shriveled avid gamers for the 2023-24 season stirred controversy, significantly with Hardik Pandya being positioned in Grade A. This transfer confronted scrutiny as Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan opted out because of non-compliance with BCCI laws on home cricket.

Backlash over Hardik Pandya’s Grade A inclusion

Questions arose referring to Pandya’s eligibility, given his absence from each world and home cricket since maintaining an damage within the ODI Global Cup 2023. Critics argued that being out of Take a look at cricket because of a delicate again and rare participation in home cricket will have to disqualify him from Grade A.

Aakash Chopra defends BCCI’s resolution on Hardik Pandya

Chopra stepped in to protect the BCCI’s resolution, saying that Pandya shouldn’t be penalized for now not enjoying top quality cricket, particularly as he isn’t in competition for a Take a look at squad spot.

“Hardik Pandya’s case may be very easy. Why would you punish him if he has now not made a mistake? He isn’t enjoying red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does now not exist anymore. He has now not stated that as such, however in actual fact that he’s now not to be had at interested by any Take a look at sequence,” Chopra stated on his YouTube Channel.

“So should you aren’t in any respect auditioning for Assessments, nobody will ask you to play top quality cricket. Why would you play four-day video games while you don’t have that a lot energy for your frame to bowl such a lot of overs and feature damage issues? So why will have to he play – honest play,” the 46-year-old concluded.

Additionally READ: Complete record of avid gamers got rid of from BCCI’s annual contracts for 2023-24 season

A chronological point of view

Chopra equipped a chronological account of Pandya’s restricted home cricket involvement, bringing up damage issues and emphasizing that Pandya by no means made himself unavailable.

“Let’s attempt to perceive the chronology moderately. It’s going to simply transparent up your thoughts why a special rule has been saved for him and why it’s improper to incorporate him with Ishan and Shreyas. He were given injured throughout the Global Cup, which was once October-November,” the Agra-born cricketer said.

“The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was once over in October-November. He was once enjoying within the Global Cup for India at the moment. The remaining fit that Baroda performed within the Vijay Hazare Trophy was once on fifth December. He was once now not are compatible and to be had. He wasn’t training anyplace however was once getting better from his damage within the NCA,” Chopra concluded.

Pandya’s cricketing comeback: From damage to IPL management

Pandya suffered an ankle damage within the Global Cup 2023 in opposition to Bangladesh in Pune, resulting in his absence from cricket. Nonetheless, he made a comeback within the DY Patil event 2024 and is slated to captain the Mumbai Indians (MI) within the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.