Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has supposedly gone through a tough rehabilitation process at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence before the soon-to-come five-match T20I series with South Africa. PTI news report states that Hardik is likely to be back in the team for the T20I series.
Since the Asia Cup 2025, when he strained his left quadriceps, Pandya has not taken part in any matches. He missed the final against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and was omitted from the squads for the Australia tour for white-ball formats. His rehabilitation took a long time and he was not available even for the South Africa ODIs as a result.
Hardik Pandya Cleared to Play matches after Clearing COE program
Hardik Pandya has been certified to participate in T20 cricket after he has completed his Return to Play program at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His training lasted from October 21 to November 30 in Bengaluru and now he has been given the “fit to play” status in T20 cricket.
The BCCI had already chalked out the plan to use Hardik solely in T20Is, given that India is gearing up for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The announcement about his return to bowling and batting has turned out to be a huge advantage for the team.
Along with the training, Hardik would be representing Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. He will be taking the test of his fitness and also checking how well his body copes with the rigors of a full match.
Hardik Pandya Labeled to be a Participant for Baroda in Two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Matches
As per PTI, Hardik Pandya will probably participate in no less than two encounters of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He will take on the Punjab team on December 2, and then he will play against Gujarat on December 4.
Furthermore, the 32-year-old cricketer might also take the match against Haryana on.
December 6. The point is that the selectors would get a much clearer picture of his full return. The selector, Pragyan Ojha, has been given the responsibility of following up on
Hardik’s performance in this domestic phase.
Ojha will send updates to the Indian selectors and the team management on a regular basis. Hardik is a crucial player in the Indian T20I lineup. His presence as a finisher with the bat and as a seam-bowling all-rounder contributes to the overall balance of the team.
India South Africa-T20I-Series-Starts-in-Cuttack-on-December-9
On December 9, India and South Africa will open their T20I series at Cuttack, and the remaining matches will be played in Mullanpur and other venues. If he does not suffer from any fitness issues, Hardik Pandya is likely to be part of the Indian squad for the series since he will finish his games for Baroda.
His reintroduction is also a part of the BCCI’s long-term workload plan. The board wishes the 2026 T20 World Cup to be the time when he would be fully devoted to his best format and also not to rush him into ODIs which are of less importance now and hold more in the future.
India saw Pandya’s debut in 2016. Alongside T20I and ODI cricket, he has becomes an important player in ICC’s numbered-match formats and has already participated in 94 ODIs and 120 T20Is for the national side.