Hardik Pandya will have to take the domestic cricket route to stage his comeback to the national side, team management has indicated. Speaking ahead of the opening ODI clash against New Zealand scheduled for October 4, Shubman Gill addressed the squad balance and confirmed that the premier all-rounder will need to demonstrate match fitness before walking back into international cricket. With long-term preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup underway, the Indian dressing room is eager for the crucial player to regain full physical condition.
Domestic Tournaments to Serve as the Proving Ground
Gill acknowledged that the Indian team is waiting for Pandya to make his return, observing that the unit is not functioning at full strength while he remains on the sidelines. He expressed hope that Pandya would feature in a few domestic fixtures and make his way back to the national squad soon. This development means Pandya will likely have to participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled across November and December. The all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since the conclusion of the Indian Premier League, having battled persistent injuries since May, and is currently based at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Impact in the Lower Order and Dual-Ball Bowling Skill
Highlighting Pandya's unique contribution to the squad, Gill noted that very few cricketers globally possess the specific skill set that Pandya brings to the pitch. He pointed out that the all-rounder can bowl effectively with both the new ball and the old ball. Multiple conversations have taken place regarding his recovery, with Gill remarking that Pandya has been thoroughly unlucky with injuries. In the Indian 50-over setup, Pandya holds a decisive lower-order spot at number 7 or number 8, where his primary assignment is to accelerate the scoring rate in the closing overs while providing a genuine wicket-taking bowling outlet.
Sequence of Physical Setbacks Originating in IPL 2026
Pandya's recurring injury troubles first flared up during IPL 2026, when severe back spasms ruled him out of three matches for Mumbai Indians. Although he resumed playing later in that tournament, his usual sharpness was evidently missing. His rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in June suffered a major disruption when he sustained a quadriceps strain, which forced him out of the bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan. Continued recovery challenges kept him from participating in the subsequent ODI fixtures against England as well.
Shin Injury Rules Him Out of New Zealand Clashes
After prolonged conditioning, Pandya was selected for the one-day series against Australia A in September. However, preventive medical scans revealed damage to his lower right leg, specifically a shin injury, halting his immediate competitive return. Because of this setback, Pandya is unavailable for selection across the entire tour against New Zealand, missing both the five-match ODI contest and the subsequent five-match T20 series.
