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New Delhi: India’s experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya is facing another injury setback and has been advised to take at least three weeks of rest. He is now likely to miss either one or possibly both of India’s upcoming T20 and ODI series in New Zealand next month.
Hardik is experiencing pain in the muscles in the front of his right leg (shin), which will keep him out of competitive cricket for three weeks. He had been included in the India A squad for the unofficial ODI series against Australia A, beginning in Puducherry on October 6, but he will now miss the series. Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain of the India A team, while the pace-bowling options include Yash Thakur, Arshad Khan, Gurjapneet Singh and Arshin Kulkarni.
The unofficial ODI series against Australia A was supposed to serve as a fitness test for Hardik, particularly to assess whether he could bowl his full quota of 10 overs in an ODI before India’s tour of New Zealand. However, with him now ruled out of that series, a fresh fitness and rehabilitation programme will have to be worked out.
Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, chief of the BCCI medical panel, has reviewed Hardik’s medical reports. Once he returns from Japan, a decision will be taken on when Hardik can resume his rehabilitation. India’s T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, followed by the ODI series. At present, Hardik is unlikely to be fit in time for the New Zealand tour.
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