'We Don’t Want To Push Him': Gautam Gambhir Says Hardik Pandya Still Not Yet Fit To Bowl Full 10-Overs In ODIs
New Delhi: Ace seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not yet fit enough to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in ODIs and will not be hurried back into international cricket, said India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Pandya hasn’t played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 due to rehabbing from a back injury picked while leading Mumbai Indians. A quadriceps injury and a leg niggle meant Pandya wasn’t…
India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that Hardik Pandya is not yet ready to bowl his full complement of 10 overs in ODIs and will not be rushed back into international cricket. Pandya has been sidelined since 2026 due to a back injury, followed by a quadriceps injury and a leg niggle. Consequently, he hasn't played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 and was absent in recent white-ball series against Afghanistan, Ireland, England, and Zimbabwe.
Despite being named in the India A squad for the 50-over series against Australia A, his final inclusion is contingent on fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. In his absence, Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from the Asian Games and included in the West Indies series. Gambhir opined that Reddy would gain valuable game time against the West Indies, and with Hardik's return, both he and Nitish could feature in the playing 11.
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