‘Play more cricket’: Kapil Dev’s blunt take on Hardik Pandya’s injury woes
Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has publicly advised Hardik Pandya to increase his match volume to improve physical conditioning and reduce injury risks. The comments come amid a broader crisis of player fitness affecting the Indian national team's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Why it matters
High injury rates among star athletes impact national team performance and the commercial viability of major cricket tours.
Hardik Pandya’s prolonged absence from competitive cricket has once again brought the issue of player workload, game time and injuries into focus, with India also dealing with fitness concerns involving several other players.Pandya has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026. He was expected to return for India A in the upcoming ODI series against Australia A, beginning October 6, but his comeback was delayed. His return-to-play date had been set for September 20, and he is now ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand.So what does Pandya need to do to be available more often?“Play more cricket,” former India captain Kapil Dev told Times of India.Asked if he felt Pandya was not doing that, Kapil said: “I don’t know. You play more, your body gets tuned to that.
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