Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has permanently relocated to Bengaluru, choosing the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) as his full-time training base.

As per the information provided by the closest sources of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Hardik has rented a property closer to the outskirts of Bengaluru, near the COE.

The pace bowling all-rounder became the first high-profile active Indian cricketer to shift his base near the COE. This highlights the 32-year-old’s determination to focus on enhancing the longevity of his cricket career.

Repeated injuries have threatened to be a huge setback for Hardik’s career over the years. However, Pandya decided to enhance his progress and ensure his availability for India’s key international series and tournaments, including the ODI World Cup 2027.

Hardik Pandya’s Unusual Move After Recent Injury

Unlike Hardik Pandya, a majority of centrally contracted Indian players have gone to the BCCI’s COE only to undergo rehab after suffering an injury. At times, a few players attended the fitness assessments or national camps before featuring in any of their high-profile international matches.

Pandya, who is recovering from his quadriceps injury, has taken this tough decision after he was ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series as well as the white-ball tours of Ireland and England.

As concerns continued to increase about his long-term fitness and commitment, the Gujarat-born cricketer has decided to make BCCI’s COE his full-time training base.

BCCI Source Explains Why Hardik Permanently Shifted to Bengaluru

As Hardik Pandya continues to undergo rehabilitation, his relocation from Mumbai to Bengaluru helps him access all the facilities at the COE. Here is what the BCCI source explained:

“See! On the outskirts of the city (in Bengaluru), Hardik has rented a property that is closer to the COE. Having shifted his base permanently to Bengaluru, he becomes the first Indian cricketer to make COE his full-time training base for the remainder of his cricket career.

The main reason why Hardik wanted to leave Mumbai was because of his difficulty in traveling every day for training from his Lower Parel residence. As he is a centrally contracted cricketer, his accessibility to every facility at the COE, starting from injury management to skills training, ensures his longevity to play for another five to six years for India.

Perhaps his decision to make COE his permanent base helps him to gain training if he is not involved in IPL, domestic matches, or representing India.

Even when Hardik performs the skill-based training, such as batting against the COE’s net bowlers, he covers their payment himself rather than the academy paying them,” the source explained.

India’s Alternative Fast Bowling All-Rounders: A Threat to Hardik

BCCI selection committee has multiple options as a like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya in the seam-bowling all-rounder department.

A few years back, the Indian cricket team solely relied on Hardik’s abilities as a middle-order batsman and a key pacer.

With the emergence of several pace-bowling all-rounders such as Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Suryansh Shedge, Shardul Thakur, and several others, the pressure mounts on Pandya to keep himself fit.

Most importantly, the star all-rounder is now under the scanner for how he avoids succumbing to injuries and secures his spot in India’s main XI.

Ahead of the Afghanistan series, the medical reports declared Hardik to be unfit to bowl his quota of 10-overs in an ODI match. As the veteran cricketer eyes 100% fitness to play the ODI World Cup 2027, a permanent move to Bengaluru near the COE makes his commuting easier.

Hardik finalized his residential property on a long-term lease agreement, residing within walking distance of BCCI’s COE. This guarantees him unlimited and unrestricted access to the best facilities in the high-performance campus.

Workload, Wellness, and Winning: Final Opinion About Hardik’s Bengaluru Shift

Although Hardik Pandya was born in Gujarat, he was rooted in Mumbai for the past decade, having sharpened his skills in Ghansoli, where the Mumbai Indians’ facilities are located. By relocating to Bengaluru, he has shifted gears in his white-ball career.

Starting from the complicated muscle injury management to the skill training session in terms of batting, bowling and fielding, the BCCI’s COE has everything to provide. This highlights his intent to balance workload and maintain fitness levels ensuring that he is always ready to meet the international cricket’s demands.

Even if Hardik proceeds with his training activities outside the COE, he has appointed his own coach to ensure his personal strength and conditioning, as well as an expert physiotherapist.

As per the latest reports, the Indian all-rounder is expected to return to the COE within a couple of days after opting for a few days’ break due to personal reasons. This is indeed one of the main advantages for him to shift his base to Bengaluru so that he take short personal breaks and return quickly to resume his training session without any disruptions.