‘Why would you punish him?’ - Aakash Chopra reflects on Hardik Pandya retaining central contract amid Kishan-Iyer snub

The ongoing controversy over the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) central contracts has the cricket fraternity in a chokehold. The likes of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were snubbed from getting a central contract due to their negligence and absence from the domestic red-ball circuit. However, it is interesting to note that star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been given a Grade A contract despite not playing in the Ranji Trophy, whereas Kishan and Iyer have been denied their comtracts on similar grounds. 

Seeing the situation, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra came forward in Hardik Pandya’s defence and opined that his contract situation cannot be compared with the likes of Kishan and Iyer. Furthermore, the ex-Indian opener also said that if Pandya's body isn't fit to play multi-day games, so be it, let him not be forced to play Tests or first-class cricket for that matter.

"Hardik Pandya's case is very simple. Why would you punish him if he has not made a mistake? He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore. He has not said that as such, but the truth is that he is not available at all for any Test series,” Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"So if you are not at all auditioning for Tests, no one will ask you to play first-class cricket, Why would you play four-day games when you don't have that much strength in your body to bowl so many overs and have injury problems? So why should he play - fair play," he added.

ALSO READ: Explained: Why Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer were left out of BCCI Central Contract?

Let's try to understand the chronology slightly: Chopra

Furthermore, Aakash Chopra elaborated on why it was unjust to group the Baroda all-rounder with players like Kishan and Iyer, emphasizing the unique circumstances arising from his injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 during the match against Bangladesh, played at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

"Let's try to understand the chronology slightly. It will just clear up your mind why a different rule has been kept for him and why it is wrong to include him with Ishan and Shreyas. He got injured during the World Cup, that was October-November,” Chopra said.

"The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was over in October-November. He was playing the World Cup for India at that time. The last match that Baroda played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was on 5th December,” he added.