India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been out of action for the last four months. The player was expected to take the field in the recently concluded T20I series against Afghanistan, but he suffered another injury at the CoE. Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, addressing the media after the T20I series against Afghanistan, said he is exercising caution with Pandya. 

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“Hardik at the moment cannot bowl ten overs and hasn’t played cricket after the IPL. We don’t want to rush him back because international cricket can be tough on the body. If he plays the India A series against Australia A, that will give him some game time.”

Hardik is part of the India A squad for the three ODI matches against the visiting Australia A. Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the team against the visitors. Fans will be hoping to see Hardik contributing with the bat and ball and return to his best ahead of the upcoming New Zealand tour. 

In the IND vs AFG series, Nitish Kumar Reddy took six wickets. The 23-year-old went wicketless in the first game but claimed six wickets in the next two fixtures. Gambhir hailed the all-rounder.

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Indian coach praises Nitish Kumar Reddy

Speaking to the media after the game, Gautam said, “We want to expose Nitish to most of the international games because he is an important player, whether it is the 50-over or 20-over format. It is a huge positive the way Nitish bowled in this series. He didn’t start well, but we know the more he bowls, the better he gets, and that’s what he has shown.”

Nitish was withdrawn from the Asian Games squad for the ODI series against West Indies. It is good for Nitish as he will get some game time against the West Indies. The seam-bowling all-rounders will be key in South Africa during the World Cup next year.