Hardik Pandya set for India ‘A’ stint before India return

Mumbai: Senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been named in the India ‘A’ squad for the three-match one-day series against Australia ‘A’ in Puducherry in October, subject to regaining full fitness, the BCCI announced on Wednesday. The move means Pandya will also miss India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies, beginning on September 27.Pandya, sidelined since the end of IPL 2026 because of a quadricep injury followed by a shin problem, which saw him miss the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan starting in New Delhi from September 13, has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Sources told TOI that the 32-year-old has resumed bowling, averaging seven overs daily, and is expected to be fully fit by September 21-22. However, the selectors appear keen to assess Pandya’s match readiness at India ‘A’ level before considering him for the senior side.With an ODI World Cup scheduled for October-November 2027, the team management wants him bowling a full quota of 10 overs regularly.Ind ‘A’ multi-day squad: Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak.Ind ‘A’ one-day squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devdutt Padikkal (VC), P Arya, S Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.