Hardik Pandya Must Play Domestic Cricket Before Returning to Team, Says Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill stated Hardik Pandya needs to play domestic cricket to prove his fitness before rejoining the Indian cricket team.
Auckland, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Indian cricket star Hardik Pandya has been sidelined for an extended period due to injury. As the Indian team looks forward to his return, they emphasize that he must first demonstrate his fitness by participating in domestic cricket.
The five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand kicks off on Wednesday. Pandya will miss this series, which will undoubtedly be felt by the team.
During a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed the team’s eagerness for Pandya’s comeback ahead of the next World Cup. “He is an exceptional all-rounder. Few players in the world possess the capabilities of Hardik. As a bowler, he can be utilized in various phases of the game, whether with the new or old ball,” Gill stated.
Gill added, “We have spoken multiple times. He has been unfortunate with his injuries and hasn’t played since the IPL. We hope he returns soon and plays some domestic cricket. We are looking forward to bringing him back into the Indian team.”
Gill’s comments indicate that before rejoining the national squad, Pandya will need to compete in either the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove his fitness.
It is worth noting that Pandya last played on May 24, 2026, for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Currently, he is at the BCCI Centre of Excellence working hard to recover from his injury. It remains to be seen if he will be declared fit by the COE to participate in the upcoming domestic tournaments.
Due to his injury, Pandya has missed significant series against teams like England, West Indies, and New Zealand.
