Hardik Pandya's injury worsens, likely to be out of action for six months

The Indian cricket team is preparing for the series against New Zealand, and has been handed a major setback. Star fast bowler and all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not been seen on the field since IPL 2026 because of injury. His injury has now become more serious, and he is unlikely to be seen playing over the next six months.

Pandya was injured in the last phase of the IPL and stayed away from the field for a long time afterwards. He was to return in the first week of October, but was injured again while working on his fitness, and remains out of cricket. A new report says his injury is more serious than thought, and he is likely to be away from the game for a long time.

He will be able to start running only three weeks from now. His running load will then be raised gradually over the following eight weeks. Pandya will need considerable time to regain full fitness. He is troubled by a stress injury on the inner side of the shin, which is why he is spending a lot of time at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

Pandya will begin work on his fitness at the end of January. The Indian team is due to play a Test series in February. Pandya is not part of the Test squad, so he could be seen playing directly in IPL 2027.

Pandya will also not play domestic cricket this season. By the time he is fit, the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be over. As a result, he will have to return directly to the challenging contests of IPL 2027. The BCCI is in no hurry in his case, and he is being given time to recover fully.

Pandya is needed for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, and with that tournament in view, the team is giving him all the time he needs. The team management is meanwhile looking for a player to replace him. For this reason Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube are being given a full run, and Reddy could get a place in the playing XI on the New Zealand tour.