NEW DELHI, India — India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is poised to return to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury layoff and will represent Baroda in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, a Baroda Cricket Association insider confirmed to IANS.
Pandya suffered an injury during India’s Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka and has been sidelined since, missing the ODI and T20I series against Australia as well as the ongoing 50-over series against South Africa.
He has now received Return to Play clearance and left the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
“After a long gap from cricket, Hardik is going to appear for Baroda and will play the next few Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches for us,” a BCA official told IANS.
Baroda will face Punjab on Tuesday, followed by games against Gujarat and Haryana on Thursday and Saturday. Pandya will join a squad led by his brother Krunal Pandya and will aim to deliver strong performances in all departments as he seeks to reenter contention for the T20I series against South Africa.
Baroda opened their SMAT campaign with losses to Bengal and Puducherry but recently returned to form with a win over Himachal Pradesh.
National selector Pragyan Ojha has been assigned to monitor Pandya’s progress during his appearances for Baroda. The Ajit Agarkar–led selection committee will determine his place in the T20I squad based on those assessments.
The five-match T20I series against South Africa begins December 9, and the BCCI is expected to announce the squads later this week. (Source: IANS)
