New Delhi. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has seen a drastic change in his international career graph due to fitness issues since India’s semi-final exit in the World Cup 2019. The all-rounder was not at his best this year and received a lot of criticism for his role in getting India out of the T20 World Cup. Speaking on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar revealed that he had predicted Hardik Pandya’s fitness issues and also warned the Mumbai Indians (MI) cricketer. Akhtar pointed out that the slender physique contributed to the 28-year-old’s back problems.
Shoaib Akhtar said, “I told Bumrah in Dubai and even Hardik Pandya. He was skinny like birds. He had no back muscles. Even now I have such nice strong muscles behind my shoulders. I touched his (Hardik) back, he was muscular, but very thin. So I had warned him that he would get injured, but he said he was playing a lot of cricket. Exactly an hour and a half later he got injured.” Let us tell you that according to a report, it is also being said that Hardik Pandya may have to retire from Test cricket due to injury.
Hardik Pandya felt a stretch while bowling in a match during the Asia Cup group game against Pakistan in 2018. Since then his career has been heavily affected by back issues and it also saw him turn into a full-fledged batsman for Mumbai India during IPL 2021. Akhtar also said that he had advised Hardik to increase his muscle mass. Fans and cricket pundits were not happy with Hardik’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad this year as everyone knew he would not be available to bowl.
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