Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, on Monday, confirmed that Hardik Pandya is yet to regain full fitness, thus raising doubts over the participation of the player in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. The allrounder has not played for India since September due to a back problem. He underwent a surgery on his back in October and has almost recovered.

Hardik Pandya was recently named in India A squad for the one-day games in New Zealand but was pulled out of the squad as he was still not match ready. But earlier this month, he was seen bowling in the nets to Team India before the Mumbai ODI against Australia.

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya. Credit: Getty Images

Hardik Pandya did not look in trouble at all as he bowled to his teammates. It raised hopes that he might return to action during the upcoming Test series in New Zealand. However, Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the allrounder is not fit at the moment.

The former India skipper, in fact, made it clear that Hardik Pandya is not even fit to play a domestic game let alone a Test match. Sourav Ganguly also confirmed that the India ace is currently undergoing training at the National Cricket Academy.

“Hardik is not fit. He is undergoing training at NCA to get back to full fitness. There is no question of him playing even domestic games at the moment,” Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Meanwhile, India are yet to announce the squad for the two-match Test series that gets underway on February 21. India have started their tour of New Zealand on a strong note. The Men in Blue thrashed New Zealand in the first two T20Is to take the lead in the five-match series. After the five T20Is, both the teams will play three ODIs before locking horns in the Test series.

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