New Delhi .Indian team's experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya has once again suffered an injury to his right calf. Due to this injury he will have to stay away from competitive cricket for at least three weeks. In the current situation, Hardik will not be able to participate in the T20 and ODI series against New Zealand. This is another problem for him amid his consistently impressive comebacks.
Hardik's 'return to play' date was fixed as September 20. Under this plan, he was included in the India A team for the ODI series against Australia A starting from October 6. However, after the new injury surfaced, his plans to play in this series have also been affected.
The latest scan has confirmed an injury to his right calf. He has been advised to take complete rest for two weeks. Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, head of the medical panel, has seen his report. After returning from Japan, he will assess Hardik's condition and after that it will be decided when his rehabilitation can start.
The T20 series against New Zealand will start from October 22. After this, an ODI series will be played between the two teams. Looking at the current situation, Hardik is unlikely to be fit and return to competitive cricket by then.
There was also a plan to send Hardik to Japan with the Indian team for the Asian Games. For this, his passport was taken as per the visa related process. However, his fitness and further plans after the new injury will be decided on the basis of medical assessment.
Hardik's problem also came to light just before the start of the T20 series against Afghanistan. During fielding drills he suddenly felt severe pain around his knee. After this he took a break and decided to rest for a few days. The pain resurfaced while preparing to obtain a fitness certificate and a scan confirmed the injury.
32-year-old Hardik has been in Bengaluru since the end of the IPL. After being transferred there, he was training at the Center of Excellence. Despite this, injuries or physical problems have affected his comeback plans at least three times in the last four months.
First during the Afghanistan ODI, then the England T20 and now the Australia A series, his comeback has been affected by injury. Following the new injury, his return to competitive cricket has once again been pushed back.
After being out of the New Zealand series, Hardik's next possible comeback could be in the ODI series against Zimbabwe. If he is fit by then, he can return from there. Apart from this, there may also be an option to play in Vijay Hazare Trophy or Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to test his fitness.