Hardik Pandya must prove fitness in domestic cricket before India return, says Shubman Gill

Everyone knows how important Hardik Pandya is to the Indian team. With the 2027 ODI World Cup ahead, all are waiting for the star all-rounder to regain fitness. A statement by Shubman Gill has now stirred talk: Gill has said Hardik will have to play domestic cricket, that is, prove his fitness, before returning to the Indian team.

Gill made the remark when journalists put questions to him ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on October 4. He said the Indian team, preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup, is waiting for Hardik's return. Because of Hardik's injuries, India are unable to play at full strength. The next World Cup will be played in Africa from October 2, 2027.

Gill said, "Hopefully Hardik will return soon. He will play some domestic cricket and we hope he will come back into the Indian team soon. He is a great all-rounder. Very few players in the world have his skill. He can bowl with both the new and the old ball. We have spoken many times. He has been very unlucky with injuries. He has not played since the IPL."

The statement effectively means Hardik will have to prove his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy, to be held in November and December. The all-rounder has not played cricket since the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been struggling with injuries since May and is currently at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Asked about Hardik's impact on the team, Gill said he is a special cricketer who can bowl with both the new and the old ball. In the Indian ODI side, Hardik is a strong presence at No. 7 or 8, with the responsibility of scoring quickly in the final overs of the innings.

Hardik's run of injuries began during IPL 2026. Because of back muscle pain, he missed three matches for Mumbai Indians. He later returned to the tournament, but his skills had blunted. In June, during rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), he suffered a thigh muscle injury, which ruled him out of the ODI series against Afghanistan.

Not being fully fit, he then also missed the ODI series against England. In September he was selected for the ODI series against Australia A, but a scan revealed an injury to the calf of his right leg. He will also miss the five ODIs and five T20 matches against New Zealand.