Can Hardik Pandya make comeback in Indian team? Know all-rounder's latest fitness update

subhradeep-choudhury — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:03:35 GMT

Know all-rounder Hardik Pandya's fitness update.

The premier seam bowling all-rounder of the Indian side, Hardik Pandya, has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series against Australia down under. He also didn’t feature in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium against Pakistan and is expected to be back for the white-ball series against South Africa at home.

Hardik will check in at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru on October 15 for an assessment, which will decide his future. The initial timeline for the recovery process of the Indian player was around four to six weeks, and we will get more clarity after he undergoes a thorough assessment in Bengaluru. The positive news for the player is that there is no requirement for any surgery.

In six fixtures of the Asia Cup 2025, Pandya picked four wickets and contributed a useful knock of 38 runs against Bangladesh in Dubai. His injury meant the selection committee drafted the young all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, into the squad, which will be interesting to see how he fares down under.

Hardik Pandya to check in at BCCI centre of Excellence on October 15

Hardik’s performance in any ICC event is crucial. He brings the balance to the playing eleven as he can bat in the middle order during the death overs and provide at least three overs with the ball. That always helps the management to either keep an extra batter or bowler in the side. This was the exact situation during the Blue Brigade’s title-winning T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The 32-year-old has clubbed 1904 runs in 68 innings at an average of 32.82 and a strike rate of 110.89 with 11 half-centuries. In the shortest format, the right-handed batter has cracked 1860 runs at a strike rate of 141.01 with five half-centuries.

Hardik, who was in extremely good form for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, can get the Protea and New Zealand series at home for great preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to take place in February and March.