Top News

Why Hardik Pandya is Batting on Tiles Ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup
Cricket Gully | July 25, 2026 1:39 AM CST

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has kicked off this rather strict training setup at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, while he’s gearing up for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The seasoned player has apparently started digging into every corner of his game, with this pretty clear aim: to be sharp, at the right moment, for the biggest global event.

 

Sources say that Pandya trains almost every evening for about three to four hours. He typically begins around 4 pm, and that timing was picked because a lot of other players have finished their sessions and already moved out of the facility. So basically, he gets this quieter space where he can really lock in and focus 100% on practice.

 

And no, it’s not just about what happens inside the nets. Pandya has reportedly rented a villa roughly 20 kilometres from the Centre of Excellence, and he intends to live in Bengaluru for the whole stretch of preparation. That way he can follow the same routine day after day without any random breaks.

 

Hardik Pandya working hard on bowling and batting

 

Another significant part of his grinding is the process of bowling. He bowls about 12 overs of balls each day, which includes various spells. Also, Pandya tends to bowl five or six overs at once to develop his stamina, as well as to train himself for extended bowling phases, such as those in matches.

 

Batting sessions are also arranged with great precision. Pandya works on his batting by receiving throwdowns from four or five specialists and playing against some local bowlers. Everything is quite simple – improving shot selection skills and better understanding of how to read situations even under difficult circumstances.

 

Besides, Pandya works on a drill using plastic balls thrown on concrete or tiles. The ball bounces off the floor fast, skidding and zipping, and the reaction time becomes very small. It is aimed at improving reflexes and reaction, as well as back foot shots in particular, especially against short-pitched bowling.

 

Also Read | 'Why Are You Sharing All the Secrets?': Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals Why Ravi Shastri Scolded Him After England Test

 

Full focus on fitness before the World Cup

 

Fitness still stays a key daily priority. Every training day begins with around 15 to 20 minutes of taping, stretching and setup. After that, he spends about an hour inside the gym, before switching over to either batting or bowling practice, depending on the day.

 

On bowling days, Pandya generally works in open nets, and he brings in batters from outside the Centre of Excellence to face him. It’s basically a way to bowl in conditions that feel closer to real match scenarios, not just closed training routines.

 

Overall, the planning suggests Pandya is trying to leave as little as possible to chance ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. By staying in Bengaluru and keeping a tight daily structure, he’s pushing his bowling workload, tightening his batting skills and building fitness as one connected piece.

 

And with more than a year still left before the tournament, Pandya has already started laying down the groundwork for what he hopes becomes a strong World Cup run with Team India.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK