Hardik Pandya Return Delayed, Set To Miss Series Against Australia

Hardik Pandya for India [Source: AFP]Hardik Pandya will have to wait a little longer before making his return to competitive cricket. Mere days after getting ruled out of India squad for the home ODI series against West Indies, it appears that the legendary all-rounder might also have to miss the upcoming 50-overs series against a visiting Australian team.A few weeks ago, Pandya was named in India A squad for the three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A. The series would have marked his return to the field after a gap of more than four months.Hardik Pandya ruled out of India A squad for series vs Australia AAs reported by the Times of India, Hardik Pandya will likely miss India A’s upcoming three-match 50-overs series against Australia A. The cricketer has been experiencing fresh pain in his right shin for the past few days. The report further states that the senior all-rounder has undergone some scans, and has been advised more rest. Also Read- Revealed- Why Hardik Pandya Was Picked For India A But Not India Squad vs West IndiesIt is worth noting that the 32-year-old was already at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru in a bid to recover from his earlier injury, the one which kept him out of several Mumbai Indians fixtures in this year’s IPL 2026 season. Injury timeline of Hardik Pandya in 2026Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was forced to miss four matches in the IPL 2026 season earlier this year owing to his injury concern, prompting Suryakumar Yadav to lead the side on an interim basis. The cricketer was also forced to miss India’s white-ball tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe and missed the home series against Afghanistan. He was also excluded from India’s T20I and ODI series against the West Indies at home, and missed the Asian Games 2026 in Japan as he spent his time rehabilitating at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru. While he was named in India A squad for the 50-overs series against Australia A in a bid to streamline his return to international cricket, the legendary all-rounder will have to wait a little longer owing to his recurring shin issue.Pandya to race against time before India tour of New ZealandHardik Pandya is now in race against time to attain full recovery before Team India takes flight for New Zealand next month. As per the schedule, the Indian cricket team is set to travel to New Zealand for five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches.With roughly a month remaining before India’s first white-ball match of the tour in Christchurch, it remains to be seen if the 33-year-old can make it to the national squad. He is already advised rest for 10 to 15 days, thus prompting selectors to make any decision with caution.Hardik Pandya is also in consideration to headline Team India as one of its seniormost members in next year’s 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. With a World Cup and crucial 50-overs fixtures in sight, Pandya’s fitness and availability could prove crucial to India’s plans in the lead-up to the marquee tournament.Also Read- Gambhir's Special Man Commends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Ahead of IND vs WI ODIs