Hardik Pandya trains with Team India – See Pics

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not part of the India squad for the five-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series as he continues his rehabilitation after an injury. Pandya, however, trained for the first time with the Indian team since his injury. He took part in the practice session held by team India ahead of the first One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series against the visiting Australia team.

Hardik Pandya was seen training hard with Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun keeping a close eye on him. The 26-year-old took to Twitter and posted pictures of him taking part in the training session and said that he had “missed this amazing feeling”.

Back training with the team ✌ Missed this amazing feeling ?? pic.twitter.com/S9m9f8p6nT

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 13, 2020

Hardik not satisfied

? @hardikpandya7 sweated it out at #TeamIndia's training session at the Wankhede today!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/frk4eH15Wa

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 13, 2020

And at the end of the two-hour session, the all-rounder wasn’t satisfied and it was then decided that he would continue working on his back before making a return.

“To give you the real picture, he wasn’t satisfied after the high-intensity bowling workload test. There are few players who are tested based on workload. For example, a player who is coming back from a back injury, he is tested on the basis of his performance in a high-intensity bowling session.

“The player is tested after he spends more than two to three hours at the nets. Now, when the player bowls for that duration, the bowling is monitored. Rhythm, speed, accuracy and how the player is coping with his plans and delivering is what is basically tested. So, if the body can’t take what the player has in the mind, it is not responding to the workload. Pandya was of the opinion that he wants to work on his back further,” the source explained.

Vijay Shankar replaces Hardik

 BCCI reports have stated earlier that Hardik Pandya’s rehabilitation process is taking “longer than expected”. His alternative, Vijay Shankar who featured in the 2019 world cup had replaced Pandya in India A squad for New Zealand tour.

India to take on Australia

The  Indian team is getting trained for a tough contest against the Australians when the three-match ODI series begins at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Much of India’s focus is centred around India’s opening conundrum. In Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, India are spoilt for choice at the top of the order, and batting coach Vikram Rathour on Sunday called it a “good dilemma” to have.

“It’s a good dilemma to have. Rohit is an obvious choice of course. Both of them (Shikhar and Rahul) are playing well. Shikhar Dhawan has done well in one-dayers and Rahul is in great form. So we’ll deal with it when we have to,” Rathour said.

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