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Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya returned to the 50-over format after a gap of 14 months. He played his first match in the 2024 Vijay Hazare Trophy between Baroda and Bengal on December 28, 2024, in Hyderabad. The all-rounder played his first ODI after being injured during the Bangladesh match of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
While Pandya’s return to competitive action was highly anticipated, his performance in the match was far from ideal, as he had a rather forgettable outing with both bat and ball.
Hardik Pandya’s Batting Performance: A Quick Departure In Vijay Hazare Trophy
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Pandya’s much-awaited return to the ODI circuit didn’t go as planned. Batting for Baroda, he faced only two balls and could only muster a solitary run before being dismissed. In the 23rd over of Baroda’s innings, Hardik was caught by Sudip Kumar Gharami off the bowling of Pradipta Parmanik, which marked a disappointing end to his brief stay at the crease.
This early exit, which was expected to be his much-celebrated return, was a disappointment for fans and pundits alike, as this all-round cricketer has at times been a vital clog in India’s juggernaut in limited-overs cricket. His ability to play aggressive knocks in the middle order has been well utilized by India in times past, but on this occasion, his return will take more time.
Hardik Pandya’s bowling performance was decent due to the lack of opportunity
While his batting was a disappointment, Hardik Pandya showed promise with the ball. The all-rounder bowled 7 overs in the match, claiming 1 wicket for 33 runs. Even though his bowling spell wasn’t extraordinary, it did help Pandya as a player who has a history of injuries. This was a very important match to get back into the groove and gain confidence for more international assignments.
But that ODI comeback was just the beginning for him on the way to complete fitness and form. He will definitely pick up with more matches he plays leading up to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which is important for the all-rounder since he hopes to make it to the India squad for the tournament.
The Context of Hardik Pandya’s Comeback: A Key Player for India
Pandya’s comeback is significant for both his domestic team, Baroda, and for Indian cricket as a whole. After being sidelined for a considerable period due to injury, this Vijay Hazare Trophy provides him with an opportunity to prove his fitness and regain match fitness ahead of India’s future limited-overs commitments, including the 2025 Champions Trophy.
It is interesting that Hardik Pandya was not included in the Baroda squad for this tournament in the first place. Pandya also missed several early matches of the tournament for personal reasons, but now he has returned. In this tournament, for Pandya, it’s more than about proving his form; rather, it is about settling his place in India’s plans for the major upcoming events.
His all-round skills, particularly his batting in the middle order and handy pace bowling make him a great asset for the Indian team in ODIs. Match Summary: Bengal’s Dominant Win Over Baroda. Bengal beat Baroda by 7 wickets in the match played between the two teams, easily chasing down the total of Baroda.
Baroda’s Innings: A Solid Effort but Not Enough
Batting first, Baroda was all out for 228 runs in 48.5 overs. The standout performer for Baroda was Shashwat Rawat, who top-scored with a well-made 95 runs off 111 balls. His knock was the highlight of an otherwise mediocre batting display from Baroda.
The Bengal bowlers, particularly Sayan Ghosh and Pradipta Parmanik, were instrumental in restricting Baroda to a modest total. Both bowlers took three wickets each, making significant inroads into Baroda’s lineup.
Bengal made light of the chase, reaching the target of 229 runs in just 43 overs, with 42 balls to spare. An anchored chase was led by an unbeaten knock of 99 runs off 106 balls by Anustup Majumdar, during which he hit 12 boundaries and a six for Bengal as they coasted to a comfortable win.
Alongside him, Sumanta Gupta gave good support to the batting. He remained unbeaten with 69 runs off 80 balls. Together, the pair took Bengal to a comprehensive win, securing the 7-wicket victory in the process.
Hardik Pandya’s Journey Back to Full Fitness
While Hardik Pandya’s return to the ODI format was less than ideal in terms of his individual performance, he has a vital stepping block for the all-rounder in terms of trying to regain full fitness. His batting failure, however, was the opposite as his bowling performance proved to be encouraging, which may require him to feature in more matches to again regain his best form.
As India heads toward the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pandya’s contribution will be all the more important, and he hopes that this tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy will provide the right platform for him to regain his rhythm and earn himself a spot in India’s squad for the high-profile event. For now, though, it’s back to the drawing board for Pandya as he looks to bounce back in the coming matches and provide the impact that both Baroda and India will be hoping for.
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