Overview:
Hardik is aiming to demonstrate his match fitness by playing for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, ahead of his participation in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand.
As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 takes priority, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, is expected to miss the upcoming ODI series against South Africa starting November 30. He is likely to focus exclusively on the T20 format for the time being.
To manage the workload of key fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be given a break during the upcoming three-match ODI series, which is of less importance ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Hardik suffered an injury during the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai last September, which resulted in him missing the final against Pakistan.
“Hardik is making good progress in his recovery from a quadriceps injury. He is currently at the Centre of Excellence following his RTP (Return to Play) protocol. Given that he’s coming back from a quadriceps injury, he needs to gradually build up his workload, and jumping straight into 50-over cricket could be risky. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Hardik and the BCCI medical team will concentrate mainly on T20Is,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Hardik is aiming to demonstrate his match fitness by playing for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, ahead of his participation in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand.
Although there are three ODIs scheduled against New Zealand, the emphasis on 50-over cricket will remain minimal until the T20 World Cup. Following the next IPL season, senior players will shift their focus to the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.