Follow UsIndia all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to make his return to competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, according to reports. The tournament got underway on November 26, with Pandya expected to play a couple of matches for Baroda before the One-Day Internationals (ODI) against South Africa.
Pandya sustained a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025 encounter against Sri Lanka in Dubai and has been working on his rehabilitation since then. Consequently, he remained absent from India's white-ball tour of Australia recently. According to reports, the Indian team management wants him to play a couple of games before picking him for the white-ball leg of the visiting South Africa tour.
Once he receives clearance from BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE), he will link up with his Barooda teammates for their first match against Bengal in Hyderabad, followed by a game against Puducherry two days later at the same venue.
Previously, it was also reported that former India skipper Rohit Sharma was also keen to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as it is the norm for any active player to remain in contention for a place in the national side. However, there's no update on whether Kohli would take part in the upcoming white-ball competition.
Pandya, 32, has been a key figure in India's T20I squad over the years. He has played 120 matches for his country since making his debut in 2016, and has gone on to score 1,860 runs at a strike rate of 141 and has also chipped in with 98 wickets with the ball.