'Hardik Pandya’s case is different from that of Kishan, Iyer': Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after they handed Hardik Pandya a Grade A category annual contract despite not featuring in international cricket since the ODI World Cup while denying the same to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer for not playing domestic cricket.

The BCCI on Wednesday released the list of players that have been awarded annual central contracts for 2023-2024. Hardik suffered an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup in the match against Bangladesh and the all-rounder has been out of action ever since. Fans on social media also pointed out Pandya's unavailability from domestic cricket regularly.

"Hardik Pandya's case is very simple. Why would you punish him if he has not made a mistake? He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore. He has not said that as such, but the truth is that he is not available at all for any Test series," Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

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