Hardik Pandya’s comeback plans have suffered another major setback. The senior India all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026, and his latest injury has now effectively ruled him out of India’s upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand.
Hardik was expected to make his return through India A in the upcoming one-day series against Australia A, beginning October 6. His Return To Play date had been set for September 20, but a fresh injury has put those plans on hold.
According to a BCCI source tracking the Centre of Excellence developments, Hardik’s latest scans have revealed an injury to his right shin. He has reportedly been advised complete rest for two weeks.
“This is very unfortunate, but Hardik’s latest scan reports have revealed an injury to his right shin. He has been advised to complete rest for a period of two weeks,” the BCCI source told PTI.
BCCI medical panel head Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala has also seen Hardik’s reports. He is expected to assess the all-rounder after returning from Japan and decide when Hardik can begin his rehabilitation.
The latest injury means Hardik will miss the India A series against Australia A. More importantly, it has also made a comeback during the New Zealand tour extremely unlikely.
India are scheduled to play five T20Is against New Zealand starting October 22, but Hardik will now have to wait longer before returning to competitive cricket.
Hardik’s comeback has faced repeated setbacks
Hardik has already spent a considerable amount of time away from competitive cricket. His latest setback comes after another period of uncertainty surrounding his fitness.
He had reported shooting pain around his knee during fielding drills just before the Afghanistan T20 series. Following that, he took a break and decided to rest for a few days.
However, the pain resurfaced just as he was preparing to receive the green light for his return.
The latest shin injury has now forced the Indian all-rounder to take another step back.
West Indies and Asian Games plans also affected
The development comes only days after reports suggested that a section of BCCI officials wanted Hardik to be included in India’s ODI series against the West Indies.
However, the selectors reportedly intervened, meaning Hardik was not considered for the series.
There had also been plans involving Hardik for the Asian Games squad. According to the report, the BCCI had even asked for his passport for visa-related work.
Those plans have now added another layer to Hardik’s complicated comeback journey.
What happens next for Hardik Pandya?
With the New Zealand series seemingly out of reach, Hardik may now have to look further ahead for his return.
If he is declared fit, the Zimbabwe ODIs could become a possible opportunity for him. Another option could be domestic cricket, with tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy or Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy potentially giving him a chance to prove his fitness and match readiness.
For now, though, Hardik’s priority will be recovery.
The Indian team will certainly want their experienced all-rounder back at full fitness rather than rushing him into international cricket. But after another injury setback, Hardik Pandya’s wait to return to competitive cricket has become even longer.
