Hardik Pandya set to play in Ranji Trophy, eyes Border-Gavaskar Trophy for Test return

India allrounder Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to make his much-awaited return to red-ball cricket. The star cricketer is set to play white-ball cricket for Baroda in the domestic circuit and could be seen in action in the Ranji Trophy as well.

Hardik Pandya has not played a Test match or a first-class match since 2018 due to fitness concerns. He has suffered a number of serious injuries in recent years and has stayed away from the longest format of the game in order to protect himself for limited-overs cricket.

However, the 30-year-old could be seen donning the whites once again this year. According to a report in Sports Tak, a top source in the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has said that there are fillers that the allrounder would be playing white-ball games and in all likelihood will turn up for the red-ball game as well.

Last week, Hardik Pandya triggered speculations over his return to Test cricket by posting a video of himself bowling with the red ball during a training session in England. As per reports, he is interested in returning to the Test side.

The source stated that Pandya is eyeing a comeback to the Indian Test side for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, scheduled to get underway later this year. Pandya could also be a part of the Indian Test team for the home series against New Zealand.

Pandya last played for Team India during the T20 series against Sri Lanka in July. Interestingly, he was not a part of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against the Islanders. Before that, he had starred with both bat and ball in India's victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup in June.

Hardik Pandya's Test career:

Before suffering the injury setbacks, Hardik Pandya hit the ground running in Test cricket. The allrounder played 11 Tests and scored 532 runs with the help of one century and four half-centuries including a 48-ball fifty on his debut. With the ball, Pandya picked up 17 wickets including a five-wicket haul in England.