Hardik Pandya's long-awaited return to competitive cricket has suffered another setback, with fresh scan reports revealing a right shin injury that effectively rules the senior India all-rounder out of the impending white-ball tour of New Zealand.
According to a report by PTI, a BCCI source tracking developments at the Centre of Excellence said Pandya's latest scans had detected an injury to his right shin, and he has been advised complete rest for two weeks. BCCI's medical panel head Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has seen the reports and, on his return from Japan, will assess the all-rounder and decide when he can begin rehabilitation.
Comeback trail disrupted
Pandya has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026, and his return-to-play date had been set for September 20. He was expected to feature for India A in the upcoming One Day series against Australia A starting October 6, as well as India's white-ball tour of New Zealand, where the team will play five T20Is from October 22 followed by an ODI series.
The injury ends any realistic possibility of that comeback. The trouble began just before the Afghanistan T20 series, when Pandya reported a shooting pain around his knee during fielding drills and took a few days' rest. The pain resurfaced just as he was about to receive clearance for his return, prompting fresh scans that confirmed the injury.
What comes next
The report also revealed that the BCCI had wanted Pandya in the Asian Games squad and had taken his passport for visa-related work, while a section of BCCI officials had earlier pushed for his inclusion in the ODI series against the West Indies, only for the selectors to intervene.
With the New Zealand tour now out of reach, the 32-year-old may have to target the Zimbabwe ODIs or domestic tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy or the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for his competitive return. With the 2027 World Cup as the ultimate target, there is little appetite for rushing him back too early.
Sources:
Khel Ja: Hardik Pandya's comeback suffers fresh blow, shin injury rules him out of Australia A and New Zealand tour: Report
Cricket Times: Big blow for India as Hardik Pandya gets ruled out of New Zealand white-ball tour – Reports
According to a report by PTI, a BCCI source tracking developments at the Centre of Excellence said Pandya's latest scans had detected an injury to his right shin, and he has been advised complete rest for two weeks. BCCI's medical panel head Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has seen the reports and, on his return from Japan, will assess the all-rounder and decide when he can begin rehabilitation.
Comeback trail disrupted
Pandya has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026, and his return-to-play date had been set for September 20. He was expected to feature for India A in the upcoming One Day series against Australia A starting October 6, as well as India's white-ball tour of New Zealand, where the team will play five T20Is from October 22 followed by an ODI series.
The injury ends any realistic possibility of that comeback. The trouble began just before the Afghanistan T20 series, when Pandya reported a shooting pain around his knee during fielding drills and took a few days' rest. The pain resurfaced just as he was about to receive clearance for his return, prompting fresh scans that confirmed the injury.
What comes next
The report also revealed that the BCCI had wanted Pandya in the Asian Games squad and had taken his passport for visa-related work, while a section of BCCI officials had earlier pushed for his inclusion in the ODI series against the West Indies, only for the selectors to intervene.
With the New Zealand tour now out of reach, the 32-year-old may have to target the Zimbabwe ODIs or domestic tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy or the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for his competitive return. With the 2027 World Cup as the ultimate target, there is little appetite for rushing him back too early.
Sources:
Khel Ja: Hardik Pandya's comeback suffers fresh blow, shin injury rules him out of Australia A and New Zealand tour: Report
Cricket Times: Big blow for India as Hardik Pandya gets ruled out of New Zealand white-ball tour – Reports
