India's head coach emphasises the importance of game time for Hardik Pandya as the team builds towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has underlined the critical need for Hardik Pandya to gain sufficient game time before the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Pandya has not featured in recent cricket following the Indian Premier League, raising questions about his readiness for the tournament. The all-rounder's absence from India's opening phase of World Cup preparations, including the three-match ODI series against West Indies, reflects ongoing fitness concerns.
Both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested from the West Indies series, with Bumrah away on Asian Games duty and Pandya not yet fit to bowl 10 overs in ODI cricket. The coach acknowledged that very few teams possess a player with Pandya's unique skill set.
"Whether it's Hardik, whether it's Jasprit Bumrah, both of them are going to be extremely important for us in South Africa. Because the way if you talk about Jassi or if you talk about Hardik, very few teams have a player like that who can bowl 10 overs for you, plus bat at number six or seven, plus with that impact," Gambhir said on JioStar.
Why game time is crucial for Pandya before the World Cup
Pandya's lack of recent cricket exposure has become a key consideration as India prepares for the World Cup. The all-rounder's fitness status means he has not accumulated the match practice needed to hit peak form ahead of the tournament. Gambhir stressed that Pandya's situation requires immediate attention through competitive cricket.
"Especially for Hardik, because he needs game time as well. Because after the IPL he hasn't played a lot of cricket. So if the focus is only that he has to play the 50-over format, then he might be short of cricket," Gambhir added.
Gambhir made clear that arriving at a World Cup without adequate preparation carries significant risk. The coach emphasised that rhythm and match fitness cannot be compromised when competing at the highest level. Every player heading to South Africa must arrive in peak condition.
"Game time going into the World Cup is going to be extremely, extremely important. You cannot go there half-cooked. So you should have enough game time, your rhythm should be so good, because going to the World Cup, there are no ifs and buts," Gambhir said.
Pandya is expected to make his comeback through India A's one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, scheduled between October 6 and 11. This assignment will provide him with the opportunity to build his match fitness and regain rhythm before joining the senior squad for further World Cup preparations. The West Indies series marked the beginning of India's formal build-up towards the 2027 tournament.