Hardik Pandya shifts base from Mumbai to Bengaluru: Here’s why

Hardik Pandya (ANI Photo) India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has moved to Bengaluru in a major career move and has decided to make the BCCI Center of Excellence (COE) his main training base for the foreseeable future. The decision makes Pandya the first active, high-profile Indian cricketer to be permanently located near the COE, a facility traditionally used by centrally contracted players for injury rehabilitation, fitness testing and national team camps rather than as a full-time training centre. Hailing from Baroda, Gujarat, Pandya has spent most of the last decade living in Mumbai, where he received his primary training at the Mumbai Indians facility in Ghansoli. However, the 32-year-old has now moved to Bengaluru after spending a significant amount of time at the COE over the past six months as he recovers from a quadriceps injury. The injury has ruled him out of India’s ongoing white-ball tour of Great Britain and he continues to rehabilitate. “Hardik has already moved to Bengaluru permanently. He has rented a property on the outskirts of the city, close to COE. He will be the first Indian cricketer to make COE a permanent training base for the rest of his career,” a BCCI source told PTI. According to the source, the move was motivated by both convenience and access to premium facilities. “Hardik wanted to move out of Mumbai as the daily commute from his residence in Lower Parel to training had become a problem. As a centrally contracted cricketer, he has access to all the facilities at the COE, from injury management to skill training.” “Hence, he has decided to make COE his permanent base whenever he is not in IPL, state or national service,” 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 Indian vice-captain intends to play white-ball international cricket for a few more years. “It is like shifting his base to Bengaluru if he is playing white-ball cricket for India and intends to play for at least five to six more years. “Even when he does skill work like batting against bowlers hired by the COE, Hardik pays them from his own pocket,” the source added. Pandya’s rehabilitation program is still ongoing. He recently took a short break due to personal commitments and is expected to return to the center of excellence in the next few days to recover. His availability for India’s three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which follows the UK tour, remains uncertain. The decision on his selection will depend on whether he successfully completes the BCCI’s Return-to-Play protocols and is declared fully fit.