Hardik Pandya return date confirmed before Australia T20Is; All-rounder to play in..
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India is focused on their veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Australia, while they await the return of Rishabh Pant in Tests and Hardik Pandya in limited-overs cricket. Hardik was ruled out ahead of the Asia Cup final clash against Pakistan due to an injury to his quadriceps.
The BCCI medical bulletin finally revealed a probable date for Hardik's return. Meanwhile, India will have to continue with Nitish Kumar Reddy for the Australia tour. The all-rounder already replaced Pandya in the ODI XI and is likely to make a T20I comeback as well.
India lost the first ODI at Perth, while Nitish Reddy played white-ball cricket for the first time on Australian soil. He played a small cameo of 19 runs at the back end, and he heaved some sixes in the last over, coming much down the order.
Hardik Pandya to be back ahead of the South Africa white-ball tour
Seasoned Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the BCCI Centre of Excellence last week to report his injury after being snubbed from the Asia Cup final. The good news is that the all-rounder would not need surgery for his quadriceps injury. He has initiated rehabilitation under the watchful eyes of the BCCI medicos.
As per TOI reports, Pandya is likely to make a comeback ahead of the India vs South Africa white-ball series, ending his 4-week-long stay at the BCCI's COE in Bengaluru. The 32-year-old checked into CoE amid Diwali festivities and resumed training on Wednesday as well.
He is determined to return ahead of the South Africa series, and even the medical team has chalked out a similar date of return after making the initial assessments.
Sitanshu Kotak on developing Nitish Kumar Reddy as the next all-format all-rounder for India
The Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had highlighted the importance of a player like Hardik Pandya in the limited-overs side. He had, however, also mentioned that Hardik Pandya's absence would help them prepare Nitish Kumar Reddy as the next possible all-rounder for India.
Reddy, unlike Pandya, plays in the Test format as well and is hence cited as the next all-format all-rounder for India. "Someone like Hardik is always a big loss. But if we look at the positive side, Nitish is getting some game time, and we're trying to groom him," Kotak said ahead of the 2nd ODI vs Australia in Adelaide.
"Every team needs an all-rounder, and we’re trying to develop him in that role. So it's good preparation in that way. But yes, any team would miss a player like Hardik," he added.
Rishabh Pant to return with India A series
Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the game even before Hardik Pandya. The wicket-keeper was ruled out owing to a fractured foot in England at Old Trafford. He missed the final Test at The Oval and was then ruled out of any chances of a comeback in the home series against the West Indies.
After having been replaced by Dhruv Jurel even on their tour of Australia, Pant is all set to make an international comeback with the South Africa tour. Ahead of those games, he will lead the India A side for the two unofficial Tests against South Africa to commence on the 30th of October.
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India National Cricket Team India vs South Africa South Africa vs India Hardik Pandya BCCI Asia Cup
