NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya, India’s prolific all-rounder, arrived at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Tuesday for a comprehensive assessment of his left quadriceps injury. This visit is crucial for determining his recovery progress and outlining his immediate future course of action.
Pandya’s injury was sustained during the Asia Cup 2025 match against Sri Lanka, forcing him to miss the tournament’s final showdown against Pakistan last month. He was unable to take the field for that tense match, and the BCCI medical team advised him to rest.
Initially, a recovery period of four to six weeks was estimated. More clarity on his return will emerge following the detailed assessment in Bengaluru. The injury also led to his absence from the recent tour of Australia, where India played both ODIs and T20Is. Encouragingly, medical reports currently indicate that surgery is not required, and Pandya is anticipated to make his return to competitive action as early as next month. During the six Asia Cup matches he played, Pandya showcased his versatility, claiming four wickets and contributing a valuable 38 runs against Bangladesh.
With Pandya sidelined, India brought young talent Nitish Kumar Reddy into the squad. Cricket enthusiasts will be keenly watching to see how Reddy performs in the upcoming matches Down Under, especially after his impressive showing in the Border Gavaskar Trophy last year.
Meanwhile, the Indian team is preparing to depart for Australia tomorrow. Virat Kohli has already reached Delhi to join the squad, while senior players Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer are expected to arrive later in the day.