Hardik Pandya Quits Mumbai (Source: AFP Photos)
Amid IPL trade buzz around him, Hardik Pandya made a surprising move, leaving fans stunned. The 32-year-old, who has been ruled out of India tour of England 2026, has left Mumbai.
More significantly, Hardik picked Bengaluru as his next home. However, just to clear, there is no relation between his personal decision and his next IPL team.
Hardik Pandya Shifts His Base Closer To CoE In Bengaluru
Of late, Hardik Pandya has been dealt with many injuries. Therefore, he had to visit Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) very frequently. So, he has permanently relocated to Bengaluru for the rest of his career, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
"Hardik has already permanently shifted to Bengaluru. He has rented a property on the outskirts of the city, close to the CoE. He will be the first Indian cricketer to make the CoE his permanent training base for the remainder of his career," a BCCI source told PTI.
Also Read: West Indies Match-Winners Who Could Stun Australia In Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final
Further, the BCCI source explained why exactly Hardik picked Bengaluru, and left Mumbai.
"Hardik wanted to move out of Mumbai as commuting every day from his Lower Parel residence for training had become a problem. As a centrally-contracted cricketer, he has access to every facility at the CoE, from injury management to skills training," he added.
Hence, he took the decision to make the CoE his permanent base whenever he is not on IPL, state or national duty."
More Boost For Hardik Pandya
Moreover, the PTI report revealed that Hardik will have a physiotherapist and a personal strength and conditioning (S&C) coach outside CoE who can help him recover in a quick manner.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup not far away, this could be a significant step for his career, which had many interruptions due to injury concerns.
"It is like shifting his base to Bengaluru as long as he plays white-ball cricket for India, and he intends to play for at least another five to six years. Even when he does skill work, such as batting against net bowlers hired by the COE, Hardik pays them from his own pocket," the source concluded.
Hardik Pandya IPL Buzz
Nevertheless, there is no relationship between Hardik relocating to Bengaluru and joining RCB for IPL 2027. Yes, it could happen if good proposals arrive from either side, although chances are highly unlikely in reality.
At this point, there were reports that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) might look to sign Hardik Pandya for the upcoming season. It could be an all cash deal or player swap, depending on the demands.
KKR actually require a captain, while Hardik at MI are not going anywhere positive. Hence, a move could happen until better offer arrives at MI’s table in the near future.
Also Read: Phil Salt Is Chasing Rohit Sharma: Records That England Players Can Break In India T20Is
.jpg?type=mq "Andrew Strauss Slams Ben Stokes")
