Hardik Pandya relocates to Bengaluru, makes BCCI Centre of Excellence his training base

Hardik Pandya relocates to Bengaluru, makes BCCI Centre of Excellence his training base

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has relocated to Bengaluru and made the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) his permanent training base, becoming the first prominent active India cricketer to do so.

The move marks a departure from the norm, as centrally contracted Indian players typically use the COE only for injury rehabilitation, fitness assessments or national team camps.

Pandya, who hails from Baroda but spent most of the last decade living in Mumbai, had primarily trained at Mumbai Indians’ facility in Ghansoli. However, the 32-year-old has now shifted his base to Bengaluru, where he is currently recovering from a quadriceps injury that ruled him out of India’s ongoing white-ball tour of the UK.

According to a BCCI source, Pandya has rented a house on the outskirts of Bengaluru close to the Centre of Excellence and plans to use the facility as his primary training base for the rest of his playing career.

“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,” the source told PTI.

The source said Pandya decided to leave Mumbai because the daily commute from his Lower Parel residence had become difficult. As a centrally contracted player, he has access to the COE’s rehabilitation, fitness and high-performance facilities throughout the year.

“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. Hence, he took the decision to make the COE his permanent base whenever he is not on IPL, state or national duty,” the source said.

Pandya is also expected to work with his own physiotherapist and personal strength and conditioning coach alongside the COE staff. Even during skill sessions, such as batting against net bowlers arranged by the Centre, he reportedly bears the additional costs himself.

The all-rounder intends to continue playing white-ball cricket for India for another five to six years, making the Bengaluru base central to his long-term preparation and workload management.

His rehabilitation from the quadriceps injury is ongoing. After a brief break for personal commitments, Pandya is expected to return to the Centre of Excellence within the next couple of days.

It remains uncertain whether he will be available for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe following the UK tour, with his selection dependent on successfully completing the BCCI’s Return-to-Play protocols.