Hardik Pandya set to undergo fitness assessment in NCA ahead of Asia Cup 2025: Reports

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is preparing for the Asia Cup 2025, as the pace-bowling all-rounder is set to prove his readiness for the upcoming tournament by undergoing the regular fitness test.

According to media reports, the 31-year-old Hardik Pandya is at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to undergo the regular fitness test. The fitness test will reportedly run between August 11 and 12. He is ready for the Asia Cup 2025. After the IPL 2025, Hardik had a short break before returning to training. The Times of India report suggests that Hardik has been working on his fitness in Mumbai since mid-July, as he is very serious about his fitness. 

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Hardik Pandya is a key all-rounder for India

Hardik is a crucial name in the Indian white-ball teams, as the all-rounder had an important role for the Men in Blues to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Apart from 11 Tests, he has played 94 ODIs and 114 T20Is, where the right-handed middle-order batter has scored 1904 and 1812 runs, respectively, and the right-arm medium fast has also taken 91 and 94 wickets, respectively. He is India's third leading T20I wicket-taker. 

India are favourites for Asia Cup 2025

Asia Cup 2025 will run in the T20I format, which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host between September 9 and 28. It will be the first time that more than six teams will participate in an Asia Cup tournament, as eight teams will participate in the competition, including all five Test-playing nations. In Group A, India will face Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B teams are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. 

The record eight-time Asia Cup champions (including one T20 Asia Cup title), India, are once again the favourites for the tournament, while it will also be a crucial event for them before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host between February and March 2026.