"Big season up on us" - Hardik Pandya trains hard ahead of IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is [Watch]

Team India's Hardik Pandya was seen training hard for the Men in Blue's upcoming white-ball season. The talismanic all-rounder performed fitness drills at a stadium to prepare for the side's five-match home T20I series against England, beginning January 22.

Following India's away four-match T20I series against South Africa, Hardik also participated in Baroda's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25. The swashbuckling batter looked in stunning form in the domestic T20 tournament, chalking up 246 runs across seven outings at a fantastic strike rate of 193.70.

The 31-year-old also featured in Baroda's playing XI for three matches in the subsequent Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, where he scored 11 runs in two innings and claimed three wickets from as many outings. Hardik now seems raring to go for India's white-ball series against England.

Hardik posted a video on his official Instagram account on Monday, January 13, giving fans a glimpse of his recent training session. He captioned the post:

"Big season up on us 💯🔥."

India and England will compete in five T20Is and three ODIs in January and February. The action will then move to Pakistan and Dubai, with the Champions Trophy 2025 kicking off on February 19.

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"It’s a development that needs an official word" - Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya's captaincy snub

Hardik Pandya appeared as the frontrunner to take over India's T20I captaincy reins from Rohit Sharma following the latter's retirement after the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, the team management and selectors handed over the leadership role to dynamic batter Suryakumar Yadav.

It is worth mentioning that Hardik was Sharma's deputy in India's successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. He even captained the team in the regular skipper's absence ahead of the showpiece event.

Interestingly, the Indian think tank appointed spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel as the new T20I vice-captain for the England series. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the selectors must give an official statement to explain why Hardik Pandya has been sidelined from leadership lately.

Responding to a fan's question, Chopra wrote on the microblogging platform X:

"It’s a development that needs an official word. He was leading India in Rohit’s absence. Now, he’s not even the VC. I’d like to hear from the selectors about their thought process."

Meanwhile, the T20I series opener between India and England is set to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22.