Hardik Pandya opts for CoE's new performance block programme before comeback

Hardik Pandya has reportedly opted to undergo his rehabilitation under the newly launched performance block programme by the Board of Cotrol for Cricket in India's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The star all-rounder, who is at the facility for recuperating from his quadriceps injury, has decided to not fast-track his comeback to international cricket, instead focusing on fine-tuning his skills under the programme.

According to reports, Hardik is not the first player to recover using the performance block programme. Ace pacer Harshit Rana, who recently made a surprise comeback to the Indian squad, became the first to return to the side after following the regime of the new programme. The BCCI has appointed a dedicated coaching staff to work with the players under the performance block.

“The CoE was largely a rehab centre for international cricketers. The cricketing programmes were restricted to age-group and zonal camps. Now, India players can come at any time and have very specialised sessions to work on minute things in their game. There will be a dedicated coaching staff working with the players. Also, under this programme, an injured player can only be cleared as fit to play for India if he is playing to his potential,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Meanwhile, the rehabilitation has not allowed Hardik to make himself available for the Indian team for the tour of England. He was initially ruled out of the T20I squad and was subsequently not named in the ODI squad as well, meaning that he might be seen returning to cricket directly with the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in August.

Speaking of his injury, Hardik had checked in to the Centre of Excellence for rehab from his back spasm from the IPL season with the Mumbai Indians. However, during the rehab, he picked up a quadriceps injury, which ruled him out of the home series against Afghanistan while also missing at least two more important white-ball series for the Men in Blue.