Last Updated on 3 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
In a significant move to extend his international career, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made Bengaluru his permanent training base. The decision has been taken with a long term vision as preparations have already been aligned towards 2027 ICC ODI World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, where cricket is set to make its return.
The move is indicative of a renewed focus on fitness, workload management and injury prevention. This approach aims to ensure greater availability for India’s biggest assignments over the next few seasons after several years of battling recurring injury setbacks.
COE Selected as Permanent Training Base for Hardik Pandya
Pandya’s full time training base will be the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru whenever he is not on national, IPL or domestic duty.
Most of his last decade’s training had been at the Mumbai Indians’ facilities in Ghansoli, after Pandya had moved from his home town of Baroda. But now he has taken a complete change of routine and Bengaluru has become the centre of his cricketing preparations.
According to a PTI report, Hardik had already rented a property in the outskirts of Bengaluru near the COE, which makes it easier to access world class facilities on a daily basis.
“Hardik has already shifted to Bengaluru permanently. He has taken a rental property in the outskirts of the city near the COE. He will be the first Indian cricketer to make the COE his permanent training base for the rest of his career,” said a BCCI source.
The shift has largely been due to the physical toll on Pandya’s body during his career. He’s been hindered by multiple back injuries and a host of other fitness concerns over the years.
Being closer to the COE should allow for a more structured recovery and training schedule. Injury management, rehabilitation programmes, strength development and cricket specific skill sessions will all be easily accessible under one roof.
“Hardik wanted to move out of Mumbai as travelling every day for training from his residence in Lower Parel was becoming a problem. He is centrally contracted as a cricketer and has all the facilities at the COE at his disposal from injury management to skills training,” said the BCCI source.
Injury setbacks have influenced this new approach
Pandya’s latest move comes after yet another frustrating spell on the sidelines. He missed the ODI series against Afghanistan due to quadriceps injury and was also ruled out of India’s tour of England.
The setback had come during rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence, after recovery from the injury suffered during IPL. The constant interruptions have highlighted the need to be careful with his body, especially with big ICC tournaments ahead.
Thus a long term fitness first approach has been given priority over continuing previous training routines.
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