‘He Cannot Bowl 10 Overs…’: Gautam Gambhir Sets Clear Condition for Hardik Pandya’s India Comeback

Hardik Pandya’s return to the Indian cricket team will not be rushed, with head coach Gautam Gambhir making it clear that the all-rounder is not yet ready to handle a full 10-over workload in ODI cricket.

Speaking after India’s 127-run victory over Afghanistan in the third T20I in New Delhi, which completed a 3-0 series sweep, Gambhir provided a detailed update on Pandya’s comeback plans.

The India coach said Pandya has played very little competitive cricket since the IPL and that pushing him directly back into international cricket could place unnecessary strain on his body.

“Hardik at the moment cannot bowl 10 overs,” Gambhir said, explaining that the team management wants the 32-year-old to regain match fitness before returning to the highest level.

Why India are not rushing Hardik Pandya

For India, Pandya’s value has long extended beyond his ability to score quickly in the middle order. His seam bowling gives the team an additional option and allows greater flexibility when constructing the playing XI.

That balance becomes particularly important in ODI cricket, where a fully fit Pandya can contribute a significant number of overs alongside his batting duties.

Gambhir stressed that Pandya has not played enough cricket since the IPL and said international cricket can be particularly demanding on a player’s body.

Instead of bringing him straight back into the senior team, the management wants him to build his workload through competitive matches.

India A could provide Hardik’s route back

The next step in Pandya’s comeback is expected to come with India A.

The BCCI has named Hardik in the India A squad for the three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, although his participation remains subject to fitness clearance.

The three one-day matches are scheduled for October 6, October 9 and October 11.

Gambhir indicated that this series could serve as an important bridge between rehabilitation and international cricket.

The coach said the message given to Hardik was clear: play the India A series, get valuable match time and, if everything progresses well, put himself back in contention for both the T20I and ODI squads.

Could Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy play together?

Gambhir also addressed an intriguing question surrounding Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose emergence has given India another seam-bowling all-rounder to develop.

Rather than viewing Hardik and Nitish as competing for a single position, Gambhir suggested there could be room for both in the same playing XI.

“Sometimes we could even go on to play both of them in the playing 11,” Gambhir said.

That possibility, however, comes with an important condition — Hardik needs to regain the bowling fitness required for the demands of the 50-over game.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy gets important ODI opportunity

While Hardik works towards his comeback, Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to receive valuable experience in the longer white-ball format.

Nitish was withdrawn from India’s Asian Games T20 squad and moved into the ODI squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies.

Gambhir welcomed the decision, saying the additional ODI game time could prove valuable for Nitish’s development.

The coach also highlighted the importance of having seam-bowling all-rounders when India travel to South Africa for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Hardik remains central to India’s ODI balance

Pandya’s absence has been significant because of the unusual balance he provides.

When fully fit, he can operate as a powerful middle-order batter while also giving the captain another pace-bowling option — a combination that can allow India to alter the balance of their batting and bowling departments without making major compromises.

His comeback, however, now appears to have a clearly defined pathway.

The immediate target is not simply a return to the Indian dressing room. Match fitness, bowling workload and competitive cricket will come first.

If Hardik clears those hurdles during the India A assignment, the door to an international return remains open.

And Gambhir’s comments have also offered a glimpse of what India could eventually be building towards: a playing XI featuring both Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy, giving the team two seam-bowling all-rounders as preparations intensify for the 2027 ODI World Cup.