[Pictures] Hardik Pandya enjoys at picturesque location amid international break ahead of IND vs BAN series
Team India cricketer Hardik Pandya is currently enjoying quality time amid the ongoing international break. The star all-rounder shared pictures enjoying water waves and sunrise on Instagram on Monday, August 19. The Baroda-based player was seen taking a plunge for an early bath in seemingly an ocean.
Pandya shared the pictures weeks after skipping the ODI series in Sri Lanka due to personal reasons. He, however, was part of the three-match T20I series in the Island country.
On the personal front, Pandya and his wife Natasa Stankovic confirmed their separation after four years of marriage last month. They confirmed that they will co-parent their son Agastya.
Following a tough phase, Hardik Pandya was seen rejuvenating by diving into the sea. Take a look at the snapshots below:
Hardik Pandya likely to play in T20I series against Bangladesh
Hardik Pandya might next play in the T20I series against Bangladesh in October. The matches will be played in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad on October 6, 9 and 12, respectively.
In his last outing, Pandya scored an unbeaten 22 and returned with figures of 2/23 in the second T20I against Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue won that game by seven wickets. The 30-year-old was equally instrumental in India lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup, picking up 11 wickets and scoring 144 runs in eight games.
With limited T20Is, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has asked the T20I-bound players to keep themselves fit for the T20I series against Bangladesh. Gambhir told BCCI (via Indian Express):
“Some of the guys, who won’t be a part of the 50-over format, will have a longer break. So, make sure when you come back for the Bangladesh series, you keep your skills and fitness levels high.”
“You don’t want to come for that series thinking that, okay, I can just turn up and probably deliver for the team. So, make sure that from the fitness point of view," he added.
Hardik Pandya was recently ignored for the captaincy role in T20Is due to his fitness issues. Suryakumar Yadav was appointed the new T20I skipper after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format following the 2024 T20 World Cup glory. Shubman Gill was named his deputy. Yadav began his full-time captaincy in style by winning the T20I series 3-0 in Sri Lanka.