‘Can't go there half-cooked’: Gambhir’s message for Hardik Pandya ahead of 2027 WC

Hardik Pandya’s workload and lack of recent cricket could become a key consideration for India as they build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, with head coach Gautam Gambhir stressing the all-rounder’s need for sufficient game time before the global tournament.India begin their World Cup preparations with the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, but will be without both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is away on Asian Games duty, while Pandya is still not fit to bowl 10 overs in an ODI.Gambhir, however, made it clear that both remain central to India’s plans for the World Cup in South Africa.“Whether it's Hardik, whether it's Jasprit Bumrah, both of them are going to be extremely important for us in South Africa.