India star nears return with CWC27 on the horizon

All-rounder Hardik Pandya could make his much-awaited return to competitive cricket, subject to fitness clearance, as part of the India A squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia.

The series, scheduled for October 6 to 11 in Puducherry, could see Pandya return to action after recovering from a leg strain injury he picked up in the lead-up to India’s home series against Afghanistan in June.

Earlier, the 32-year-old also missed out on part of Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign owing to back spasms. Pandya’s comeback bodes well for India with the countdown to next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

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The experienced campaigner hasn’t featured in the 50-over format since the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy last year, where he was part of India’s tournament-winning squad.

Pandya also played a pivotal role in India’s second successive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, finishing the competition with nine wickets in as many games as well as 217 runs.

The all-rounder has had his share of injury bouts, including at the previous Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, where he was ruled out midway through the tournament owing to an ankle injury.

Injury blow for India as Hardik Pandya rolls ankle while bowling | CWC23

Having scored 1904 runs and nabbed 91 wickets across his 94 ODI outings for India, Pandya will be crucial to their push for a third world title, having fallen a step short in 2023.

The marquee tournament's 14th edition will see its return to Africa for the first time since 2003, when South Africa and Zimbabwe co-hosted the event alongside Kenya.

Namibia will be co-hosting the tournament for the first time, having staged the ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year.