Hardik Pandya has been cleared to bowl after completing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is set to make his T20I comeback against South Africa. (Image Credit: X/@hardikpandya7)
Hardik Pandya has been formally cleared to bowl again after completing an extensive rehabilitation stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The 32-year-old all-rounder spent more than six weeks in rehab between October 21 and November 30, undergoing Return-to-Play protocols for a left-quadriceps injury he sustained in the recent Asia Cup 2025. With no red flags currently raised, all signs point toward a return to competitive cricket in T20Is.
Pandya's absence started with the quadriceps injury he sustained in an Asia Cup fixture that ruled him out of that final and then forced him to skip India's subsequent tours, including the Australia white-ball leg. Medical reports said there was no need for surgery. Instead, he went through a structured rehab process at the CoE that included physiotherapy, strength work, workload management, and gradual resumption of bowling drills.
After 42 days of rehab, Pandya is now cleared to bowl and bat again, restoring him as a full-functioning all-rounder for India's limited-overs plans.
Instead, Pandya's management has adopted a cautious, gradual approach to international duty. He is set to play for Baroda in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy starting in early December. He will likely play three games against Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana to gauge his body's response to competitive bowling and back-to-back workloads.
He will be closely monitored by selectors and the team's medical staff during these outings, and their feedback will determine when he rejoins the national side, with long-term fitness to be preferred over a rushed return.
If Pandya stays fit and does well in the SMAT, he should easily return to India's white-ball setup, starting with the five-match T20I series against South Africa beginning December 9. His return as a complete all-rounder who can bat and bowl would strengthen the team's balance and flexibility significantly.
With less than three months to go for the 2026 T20 World Cup, his inclusion fits into India's larger strategic planning. The board is handling his return carefully, limiting him to T20Is for the time being and keeping him out of the heavier workload of ODIs.
