"We have had multiple conversations" - Shubman Gill provides massive update on Hardik Pandya's injury and return ahead of NZ vs IND 2026 1st ODI

India captain Shubman Gill confirmed that he has had talks with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, as he continues to recover from injuries ahead of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. The skipper hinted that the 33-year-old could feature in domestic cricket before making his return to international cricket in time for the World Cup next year.

Hardik Pandya does not feature in the squad for the upcoming series, which starts at Eden Park on Wednesday, November 4. India is also without Jasprit Bumrah for the matches, leaving India without two key players, much like the recently concluded T20I series.

Shubman Gill, who leads the side for the first three ODIs before being released for the Tests that follow, has stayed in contact with Hardik Pandya through a rehabilitation now past five months. The all-rounder is currently recovering at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

“Firstly, he (Hardik) is a great player, you know the qualities that he brings to the team. Not many players in the world possess those qualities. To be able to have a fast bowling all-rounder, who can bowl at any facet of the game with the new ball, mid-overs and death overs; and the kind of batting he has,” Shubman Gill said in the pre-series press conference (via RevSportz)

“It's been very unfortunate that he hasn't been able to play since the IPL. And yes, we have had multiple conversations. He was supposed to play the India matches, but just before that he got some niggles again. So hopefully, he will be fit soon and will play some domestic cricket and then hopefully we will see him back in the side soon," he added.

In Hardik Pandya's absence, Nitish Kumar Reddy is the sole pace bowling all-rounder in India's squad. The youngster will be released from the ODIs after the opening match as he joins the red-ball setup to prepare for the forthcoming two-match Test series, scheduled to begin on November 19.

Hardik Pandya has not played international cricket since the T20 World Cup 2026 Final

Hardik Pandya has not featured in international cricket since India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. His last ODI appearance, meanwhile, was the Champions Trophy final in March 2025.

What followed has been a run of false starts. Back spasms interrupted his IPL 2026 season as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain and cost him three matches, and his last competitive game was on May 24. A quadriceps strain during rehabilitation kept him out of the ODIs against Afghanistan; then he missed the tours of Ireland and England and the Afghanistan T20Is after feeling pain around his knee in fielding drills.

The setbacks continued even after Hardik Pandya was on the cusp of a return. He was named in the India A squad for the one-dayers against Australia A in Puducherry, subject to fitness clearance, but scans showed a right tibial bone stress response. He was told to rest, missed that series and the New Zealand tour, and has been working at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026-27 could prove to be an avenue for a potential return, with the knockout rounds starting on January 2, after India's home series against Sri Lanka. However, if he fails to be fit in time, his comeback could be pushed to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season.

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