“Bowls More Than He Bats”: Abhishek Nayar Lifts The Lid On Hardik Pandya’s Prep

Hardik Pandya’s game might scream sixes and swagger, but the engine behind it is built on discipline, bowling loads, and everyday routines. Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has offered a rare, close-up view of the all-rounder’s process, calling him one of the most diligent players in the setup—and revealing that, contrary to public perception, Hardik “practices bowling more than batting.” It’s a window into why the 31-year-old remains central to India’s white-ball balance despite injuries and form storms over the years.

The routine behind the aura

Nayar’s account is blunt and illuminating: Hardik “doesn’t believe too much in skill” as a crutch; he believes in repetition, fitness, and getting his body right. A typical day means yoga, strict nutrition, and 2–2.5 hours of training, stacked around bowling spells that keep rhythm and feel intact. The aim is to arrive at games physically primed and mentally uncluttered. For a seam-bowling finisher who has to hit hard lengths at one end of an innings and high gears with the bat at the other, that “prepare the body first” philosophy makes sense.

Why bowling gets priority

India’s current T20 blueprint leans on multi-skill cricketers: specialists drive the plan, but all-rounders unlock flexibility. When Hardik’s seam is live—new-ball stints to test bounce and swing, then cutters and cross-seam late—India can field three frontline spinners or accommodate an extra batter without sacrificing control. Those options only exist if his workload is banked in the week, not searched for on the night. Bowling-first prep builds that bank.

The mental edge—and the fine line

Nayar also highlighted Hardik’s mental steadiness. Confidence has long been his calling card; it’s why he still wants the ball in the 18th over and the strike in the final five. From the outside, that steel can look like bravado when results dip. From inside a dressing room, it reads as leadership—holding belief when the game is trying to pry it loose. That’s the thin line elite finishers must walk.

Lessons from setbacks

Injuries forced Hardik to miss chunks of marquee tournaments, and that history shapes today’s routine. The yoga, the nutrition, the measured overs in training—each piece is about converting availability into impact. India’s staff have made the powerplay-to-death seam bridge a feature again because they trust the process that keeps him on the park.

What it means right now

• With India embracing a three-spinner squeeze on certain pitches, Hardik’s overs protect balance without blunting finishing power.

• His batting role flexes with the chase: enforcer when the rate spikes, calmer hands when 20s and 30s close the door.

• The net takeaway is stability. When an all-rounder’s prep prioritises bowling and body, the XI can be bolder everywhere else.