Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to cricket by playing for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, following the BCCI’s rule that players must take part in domestic tournaments to be eligible for India selection.
He is now the second top player, after Rohit Sharma, to follow this directive. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has not yet made any move and is currently spending time with his family in London.
Hardik’s Comeback Plan
Hardik has been recovering from a thigh injury he picked up during the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka. Because of that injury, he missed the rest of the Asia Cup and the series against Australia.
He has been training hard at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, working on his fitness and strength. Reports say he is now almost fully fit and could play in Baroda’s first or second match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, starting November 26 in Hyderabad.
Next Steps
Once Hardik receives his Return to Play (RTP) clearance, he will join the Baroda team in Hyderabad.
The BCCI wants senior players like Hardik to play in domestic tournaments to get match practice before returning to international cricket.
Upcoming Matches
India will next play a three-match ODI series against South Africa on:
November 30 – Ranchi
December 3 – Raipur
December 6 – Visakhapatnam
After that, India will play a five-match T20I series, starting December 9 in Cuttack.
If all goes well, Hardik could play one or more domestic matches before returning to the Indian team — marking his comeback after nearly three months.
