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Xtra Time Web Desk: In what comes as a huge relief for Mumbai Indians, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made a triumphant return to the cricketing arena after a nearly four-month hiatus. Hardik was seen playing for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 Cup on Monday. This is Hardik’s first competitive game following his injury in the World Cup on October 19.

Pandya exhibited both his bowling and batting prowess in the T20 game. He opened the bowling for his team and took three wickets, conceding just 22 runs. What was heartening, Hardik did not look in any discomfort. He came into bat at No 10 and remained unbeaten, scoring three runs off four balls, contributing to his team's successful chase of the 126-run target in 15 overs, albeit losing eight wickets in the process. Noteworthy Mumbai Indians players like Nehal Wadhera, Tilak Verma, and Piyush Chawla were also part of the Reliance 1 lineup.

This match marked Pandya's first competitive appearance since his unfortunate ankle injury during India's league match against Bangladesh in Pune last October. The injury had forced him to miss several white-ball series, including three home games against Afghanistan.

Having recently undergone rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, Pandya is now awaiting clearance from the NCA. With his impressive performance at the DY Patil T20 Cup, Pandya appears poised to be fully fit for the upcoming IPL, where he is set to lead the Mumbai Indians, providing a significant boost to the team's prospects.