India cricketer Hardik Pandya is all set to feature in the upcoming edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 as he is going to play for Baroda under elder brother Krunal Pandya's captaincy. The domestic T20 competition is scheduled to begin on November 23, a day before the IPL 2024 mega auction takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This marks Hardik's return to domestic cricket after a prolonged hiatus. His last appearance for Baroda was during the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, while his previous outing in SMAT dates back to January 2016. Notably, that match against Uttar Pradesh in the summit clash played a massive role in Hardik's rise, as it preceded his T20I debut for India by less than a week. The star all-rounder made his first India appearance against Australia in 2016 at the Adelaide Oval.
"Usually, the association names 18-member squads, but this time around, only 17 members were named initially and now, Hardik has also been added to the squad,” a source told as quoted by Sportstar.
Hardik's absence from domestic cricket was mainly due to his commitments to the national team and his struggles with injuries. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently made it compulsory for centrally contracted players to participate in domestic tournaments when they are not playing for the country and free of injuries. Hardik's inclusion in the Baroda squad for the domestic T20 tournament 2024 highlights the fact that he is adhering to the directive.
Also Check: SMAT 2024: Mumbai announce 17-member squad, Shreyas Iyer named captain
Can Baroda go the distance after finishing runners-up last season?
Baroda had a stunning campaign in the previous edition of the tournament as they finished runners-up after losing the final to Punjab in Mohali. This season, Baroda have been placed in Group B alongside strong teams like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Saurashtra. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Sikkim are the other sides in the group.
Krunal Pandya-led Baroda has been playing some excellent cricket this season as they are leading Group A in the Ranji Trophy with 27 points from five games. As they shift their focus to the white-ball format, Hardik's return will come as a huge morale-booster. Baroda begin their SMAT campaign on Saturday (November 23) against Gujarat.
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