Hardik Pandya to play domestic cricket before India recall, says Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill said on Tuesday at the pre-match press conference on the eve of India's opening ODI against New Zealand that injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya will have to play domestic cricket before rejoining the India squad. Gill added that India are waiting for Pandya's return as they build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India begin a five-match ODI series against New Zealand, their biggest home assignment since 2018-19, without a full-strength side because of Pandya's injury problems. The all-rounder has not played since the Indian Premier League and is currently at the BCCI Centre of Excellence after a run of fitness setbacks that began in May. Pandya has been sidelined through successive issues while attempting rehabilitation at the CoE.
Gill described Pandya's abilities in detail and spoke about his role within the side, saying: "Firstly, Hardik Pandya is a great all-rounder. Not many players in the world have his skill set. As a bowler, you can use him in the different facets of the game. He can bowl with the new ball and the old ball. We have had multiple conversations. He is unfortunate with his injuries. He hasn't played since the IPL. Hopefully, he will come back soon. He will play some domestic cricket. And hopefully we will get him back in the Indian team soon."
Pandya is regarded as an established No. 7 or No. 8 for India, tasked with providing the final push in the closing stages of the innings, a role Gill highlighted while discussing squad balance. Gill reiterated that the team is waiting for the all-rounder's return but that Pandya must demonstrate fitness in domestic competition before a national recall. This requirement effectively means proving fitness in either the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will be played in November and December.
Pandya's current problems began during IPL 2026 when back spasms caused him to miss three matches for Mumbai Indians; he returned later in the tournament but last played competitively on May 24. His rehabilitation at the CoE produced further setbacks, including a quadriceps strain in June that ruled him out of the ODI series against Afghanistan. Those issues prevented him from regaining full fitness in time for the England ODI series.
Subsequent troubles included pain around his knee during fielding drills ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series and a selection to the India A one-day squad against Australia A in September only subject to fitness clearance. Pandya had been expected to return to competitive cricket in October, but scans then revealed an injury to his right shin and he was advised two weeks of complete rest, which ruled him out of the Australia A series.
The latest setback meant Pandya missed India's entire white-ball series against New Zealand, comprising five T20Is and five ODIs, and his absence from the ODI leg that begins on November 4 has further delayed his return to international cricket. With competitive cricket eluding him since the IPL, domestic matches are now the pathway Gill specified for proving readiness for selection.
India will begin the ODI leg of the tour on November 4 and play their final match on November 15; after the ODI series the schedule shifts to a two-Test series starting on November 19, which the source noted leaves little time for recovery between formats.
