Reports: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah refused to go to NCA

Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom who have been recovering from injuries, have reportedly refused to go to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. As per the protocols, Pandya and Hardik, both contracted, should have been at the NCA in order to undergo rehabilitation. But they made it clear to the team management that they won’t go to the NCA.

A functionary from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the revelations. Instead of heading to the NCA, Bumrah and Hardik trained under Rajnikanth Sivagnanan, the trainer of the Delhi Capitals. Sivagnanan was in contention for the post of Team India’s trainer, but he lost to Nick Webb. The latter is currently with the national team for the home series versus West Indies.

“Both Pandya and Bumrah made it clear to the team management that they wouldn’t wish to go to the academy for rehabilitation and that is why while Yogesh Parmar kept an eye on Pandya, Nitin Patel studied every process that Bumrah followed during the rehab,” the functionary was quoted as saying in The Times of India (TOI).

The stakes are high in Bumrah and Hardik Pandya’s case

“Yes, they are contracted players and they should have been at the NCA, but the stakes are high and for a sportsperson, injuries are a serious matter. So, beyond a point you have to allow them to take a call that they are comfortable with,” the functionary added.

Amidst Bumrah and Hardik’s recovery, fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been diagnosed with a sports hernia. Earlier, the NCA gave him a clean chit, but the pacer’s injury has raised questions over the specialists working at the NCA.

Bhuvneshwar developed an injury during the 2019 World Cup and ever since, he has undergone rehab at the NCA. However, due to some reason or the other, the NCA team failed to spot the issue. Bhuvneshwar complained of discomfort in only second match on return.

“He was at the NCA for close to three months and without getting into details on the number of tests done on him in Bengaluru, all I will say is that he was checked for all possible issues. But strangely, the sportsman’s hernia wasn’t diagnosed. And no sooner was he tested in Mumbai that it was caught. Now make what you will of this,” the functionary said.