Hardik Pandya set to join Bangalore camp for Indian white-ball specialists

The Indian team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid, and the selectors have driven a process of asking the white-ball specialists, sans the Test regulars, to join a camp in Bangalore ahead of the Indian Premier League's 15th season, set to commence from March 26 in Mumbai. Hardik Pandya, who last played for India during the T20 World Cup in Dubai, has also been called up for the camp in Bengaluru. The Indian all-rounder, however, has asked for a couple of days of time to report at the National Cricket Academy. 

"Although the World Cup is more than six months away, planning can start now. The coaches and selectors want to assess the fitness of the players and take stock of things for the big event," said a source in the know of developments, reported Cricbuzz.

Since the T20 World Cup, India have somehow moved away from selecting Pandya, primarily because the all-rounder hasn't bowled as much since his stress fracture a couple of months ago. The report further stated that Hardik Pandya might be tested for the South Africa series in June.

There are further claims that many franchises are certainly not happy about the camp as it has deterred the practice time for the players, set to have joined the respective teams. Franchises have the contractual agreement of securing players at least two weeks before the tournament begins. The complaint now sits with IPL chairman Brijesh Patel and CEO Hemang Amin.

While the franchises expected the players to join them by March 12, now that the camp ends on March 15, players can only join the team on March 18 after completing the mandatory three-day quarantine. The tournament kick starts on March 26 in Mumbai, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.