Hardik Pandya Returns After 42-Day Rehab, Set to Play for Baroda in SMAT 2025

India’s white-ball all-rounder Hardik Pandya will leave the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru today (November 29) after receiving his Return to Play clearance. He spent 42 days training and recovering at the facility.

The 32-year-old will now join Krunal Pandya’s Baroda team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Hyderabad, where he is expected to play three matches on December 2, 4, and 6.

As TimesofIndia first reported, Hardik arrived at the CoE on October 14 to assess a left quadricep injury and has been training continuously to prepare for the upcoming white-ball matches. He took a short break around Diwali during his rehab, but for most of the 42 days, he went through intense training sessions under the guidance of specialists.

Hardik Pandya Set to Return with Baroda After 42-Day Rehab

The initial plan for Hardik was to be ready in time for the ODIs vs South Africa starting November 30 but that was pushed back as the decision makers felt it would be ideal to ease him back into action with the shortest format.

Pandya has been out of action since the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka in September and ended up missing the entire Australia tour as well as the ODIs against South Africa. He remains an important part of India’s white-ball plans, and the team management wants him fully fit for next year’s T20 World Cup.

Playing three T20 matches for Baroda will give him much-needed match practice before he joins the Indian squad for the T20Is against South Africa. The five-match T20I series begins on December 9 in Cuttack and will end with the final game in Ahmedabad on December 19.