Hardik Pandya Ruled Out of Australia A Series With Fresh Shin Injury
Pandya could also miss the upcoming series against New Zealand. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind, the BCCI is reportedly keen to avoid rushing his return and wants him to regain full fitness before making a comeback to international cricket.
XtraTime Webdesk: Injuries continue to haunt Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, delaying his much-awaited return to competitive cricket. The 32-year-old was expected to make his comeback in the upcoming three-match ODI series between India A and Australia A. However, pain in his right shin has ruled him out of all three matches.
Pandya experienced discomfort in his right shin earlier this week during a training session. He subsequently underwent a scan, following which the BCCI medical team advised him to take a period of rest.
Since the conclusion of the IPL, Pandya had been training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, hoping to regain full fitness and return to the national team as soon as possible.
He was initially expected to make his comeback for India in the Afghanistan series on September 13. However, his return was delayed after he suffered a knee injury during a fielding drill at the Centre of Excellence.
Following his recovery from that setback, September 20 was reportedly identified as his tentative return-to-play date. Accordingly, Pandya was expected to feature in the India A squad for the match against Australia A on October 6.
However, the latest shin injury has once again disrupted his comeback plans. He has reportedly been advised to rest for two weeks. According to sources, Dr Dinesh Pardiwala, head of the BCCI medical panel, will review his medical reports before deciding when his rehabilitation can resume.
Pandya could also miss the upcoming series against New Zealand. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind, the BCCI is reportedly keen to avoid rushing his return and wants him to regain full fitness before making a comeback to international cricket.
At present, it remains uncertain whether Pandya will be available for the New Zealand series. If he misses that assignment, he could potentially return during the Zimbabwe series. He may also feature in domestic competitions such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy as part of his comeback preparations.
