Hardik Pandya's comeback plans hit a fresh roadblock
Hardik Pandya’s return to international cricket is set to face another setback due to a leg niggle, casting doubts on his participation in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. He remains under observation by the medical team at BCCI CoE.
New Delhi: Hardik Pandya's comeback to international cricket is facing a new obstacle as a late leg issue has derailed his plans for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Sources indicate that Pandya was performing at full intensity, but he has been advised to halt bowling due to discomfort in his leg. Resuming soon, the Afghanistan series is too close for him to achieve the required fitness levels.
Although there were no major concerns regarding batting and movement, the Centre of Excellence needs to be fully convinced before clearing him for selection. Pandya, 32, has not played a competitive match since his last IPL appearance on May 24 and his last outing for India was in the T20 World Cup final on March 8. Since then, he has missed white-ball assignments against Afghanistan and the subsequent tours of Ireland and England.
The latest setback further delays his return to international cricket. Notably, Pandya had previously faced a late relapse with a low-grade quadriceps sprain before the ODI series against Afghanistan, which also hindered his fitness. While Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are progressing well for the upcoming series, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah remains uncertain for those fixtures, as he is set to participate in the Asian Games.
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