Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been on the sidelines since mid-September when he picked up a back injury during India’s Asia Cup 2018 match against Pakistan in the group stage. Close to three months on, Pandya is plotting his comeback to the Indian side.
Pandya is focused on trying to break into the squad for the third and fourth Tests of the ongoing Australia tour. So, he opted against playing one-day games for India A against New Zealand A, preferring instead to feature in the four-day Ranji Trophy match for Baroda.
He wants to put himself through the rigours of long-form cricket to gauge the levels of his fitness.
Pandya said it’s been difficult to stay out of the team for this long, and he can’t wait to get back on the field be it for Baroda or India.
“Before I go for any major series, I wanted to see where exactly I stand,” he said. “Ranji Trophy is the best domestic tournament. I wanted to check my fitness levels there, and then take a call about how I am feeling and what should be the next step. Right now, I am only focusing on the Ranji Trophy and then obviously, I want to get back to the team as soon as possible, because it’s difficult to stay away for so long.”
