Hardik to join Baroda for Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts

Hyderabad

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be available for Baroda in the knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, provided the team qualifies. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) confirmed on Saturday that Pandya will join the squad during the latter stages of the tournament, which is currently underway.

Pandya was not included in Baroda's squad for the initial rounds of the 50-over domestic competition, which began on Saturday at various venues. Kiran More, a member of the Cricket Improvement Committee of BCA, stated, “He will play from the knockouts; he has informed us.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has emphasized the importance of players participating in domestic competitions, unless given specific exemptions. Pandya had recently represented Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where the team reached the semifinals. In seven matches, he scored 246 runs and took six wickets.

Pandya has not played a non-T20 match in over 14 months, with his last ODI appearance being during the 2023 World Cup against Bangladesh in October. Following an ankle injury in that match, Pandya has not played in any format other than T20s, fueling speculation that he is focusing solely on T20 cricket. However, Kiran More dismissed these claims, reaffirming that Pandya will also play in the 50-over format.

Pandya’s involvement in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could be a key factor in his potential selection for the Champions Trophy next year. Baroda, currently captained by Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya, is competing in Group E, which includes teams like Tripura, Kerala, and Bengal. The knockout stages are scheduled to begin in Baroda on January 9, with the final set for January 18.