Hardik Pandya has put cricket fans in a tough spot. They get excited about his comeback. Only to be disappointed after another instant injury. Now, Harsh Bhogle has given his honest take on the Indian all-rounder’s condition.
What Did Harsha Bhogle Say About Hardik Pandya?
Bhogle, appearing on his YouTube channel, advocated for Pandya to give his body a longer run. On a consistent level.
“Every time you hear I think Hardik Pandya’s back, you get a little excited,” Bhogle said. “The team will look a little bit, ‘Oh no, there’s another setback. Oh, there’s something else wrong with this foot.’
“So, we have to find a way to get Hardik Pandya to be playing consistently. The play-stop, play-stop, play-break system does nobody any good.”
Bhogle compared the situation to the wisdom of elite pacers like Mohammed Siraj. Emphasising that modern gym regimens alone couldn’t substitute for actual match fitness.
“Because, while I’m not an expert in bowling, I’m not an expert in biomechanics; what my little untrained mind tells me is that the more you play, the more in rhythm you are,” Bhogle added. “And the more in rhythm you are, the less likely you are to be injured.
“Look what Mohammed Siraj said. I need to play. He said, ‘If I’m not playing for a long time, it takes me a while to get back. I need to be in rhythm. I need to play.’”
Pandya’s body, at 32, can no longer bounce back from long layoffs the way it did during his early 20s. His career stats reflect both his immense value and his fragility. A proven match-winner, yet his ledger is littered with lengthy absences.
Since his career-altering lower back surgery in 2019 and a severe ankle ligament tear during the 2023 ODI World Cup, his career has been managed through protective bubble wraps, rest intervals, and restricted bowling loads.
“That’s something a lot of the great fast bowlers have always said, ‘bowl, bowl, bowl, run, and bowl.’ I know you need to be in the gym. I know there’s modern methods, but we just have to get Hardik Pandya playing a lot more cricket. He’s not the youngest anymore,” Bhogle concluded.
This hyper-cautious “cotton-wool” approach, ironically, might be exacerbating his problems. So, when can the fans see him next? They would be hoping he makes the New Zealand tour, at least.
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