Gambhir backs Hardik Pandya’s comeback and highlights Nitish Kumar Reddy’s role in World Cup planning

Gautam Gambhir on September 18, 2026, backed Hardik Pandya’s return to India’s white-ball setup after India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Afghanistan with a 127-run win in New Delhi. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir said Pandya needs more competitive cricket before making an international comeback.

Gambhir shifted his focus to longer-term white-ball planning, saying Nitish Kumar Reddy’s development is important as India build toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, which the article notes is set to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Hardik has been named in India A’s squad for a three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry from October 6 to 11, subject to fitness clearance. He was left out of India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series as management manages his workload toward 50-over cricket.

Gambhir said management could consider playing both Hardik and Nitish in the same playing XI but stressed workload limits for Pandya. "Sometimes we could even go on to play both of them in the playing 11. But again, Hardik at the moment cannot bowl 10 overs, and he hasn’t played a lot of cricket since the IPL," Gambhir said. "We don’t want to push him into international cricket because international cricket can be extremely tough on your body as well. So if he plays those India A series, obviously he’ll get some game time as well," he added.

Hardik has not played international cricket since the 2026 T20 World Cup and has had an injury-disrupted year, the article states, and he has not featured in 50-over cricket since the 2025 Champions Trophy. Those absences make his planned India A stint a key part of India’s 50-over planning, according to the report.

Gambhir also addressed Nitish’s situation, saying the youngster’s withdrawal from the Asian Games squad and subsequent inclusion in India’s ODI series against the West Indies will provide valuable match exposure. "From Nitish’s point of view, it’s actually a great thing that he’s been withdrawn from the T20 format, and he’ll get game time against the West Indies as well," Gambhir said. "We know how important a seam-bowling all-rounder will probably be in a year and when we go to South Africa. And once Hardik comes back, obviously it’s going to be good," he added.

India’s current ODI squad for the West Indies includes Nitish, while Hardik is progressing through the India A route as he works back to full fitness. Gambhir summed up the message to Pandya with a clear pathway tied to match exposure and fitness: "And that was the clear message to him that if he can play that India A series, and then if everything goes well, he can come back and be part of the T20s and the one-day squad as well," Gambhir said.

With India already orienting selections toward the 2027 World Cup, the coming months will be important for establishing the balance of the ODI side. Hardik’s fitness and Nitish’s continued development could give Gambhir and the selectors greater flexibility when they begin settling on their preferred combination for the tournament.