India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has relocated to Bengaluru in a significant career move, choosing to make the BCCI‘s Centre of Excellence (COE) his primary training base for the foreseeable future. The decision makes Pandya the first active, high-profile India cricketer to permanently base himself near the COE, a facility that has traditionally been used by centrally contracted players for injury rehabilitation, fitness testing and national team camps rather than as a full-time training hub. Pandya, who hails from Baroda in Gujarat, had spent much of the last decade living in Mumbai, where he primarily trained at Mumbai Indians’ facility in Ghansoli. However, the 32-year-old has now shifted to Bengaluru after spending a considerable amount of time at the COE over the past six months while recovering from a quadriceps injury. The injury ruled him out of India’s ongoing white-ball tour of the UK, and he continues to undergo rehabilitation. “Hardik has already permanently shifted to Bengaluru. He has rented a property on the outskirts of the city, close to the COE. He will be the first Indian cricketer to make the COE his permanent training base for the remainder of his career,” a BCCI source told PTI. According to the source, the move was driven by both convenience and access to world-class facilities. “Hardik wanted to move out of Mumbai as commuting every day from his Lower Parel residence for training had become a problem. As a centrally-contracted cricketer, he has access to every facility at the COE, from injury management to skills training. “Hence, he took the decision to make the COE his permanent base whenever he is not on IPL, state or national duty,” the source said. Pandya is also expected to have a dedicated support team in Bengaluru, including his own physiotherapist and a personal strength and conditioning (S&C) coach, to oversee his training outside the COE. The source added that the India vice-captain intends to continue playing international white-ball cricket for several more years. “It is like shifting his base to Bengaluru as long as he plays white-ball cricket for India, and he intends to play for at least another five to six years. “Even when he does skill work, such as batting against net bowlers hired by the COE, Hardik pays them from his own pocket,” the source added. Pandya’s rehabilitation programme remains in progress. He recently took a short break for personal commitments and is expected to return to the Centre of Excellence within the next couple of days to resume his recovery. His availability for India’s three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which follows the UK tour, remains uncertain. A decision on his selection will depend on whether he successfully completes the BCCI’s Return-to-Play protocols and is declared fully fit.
