New Delhi: Team India is set to receive a major boost ahead of the upcoming limited-overs series against South Africa, with Hardik Pandya likely to make his much-anticipated comeback after nearly two months on the sidelines.
According to a report by The Times of India, the star all-rounder will return to competitive cricket by representing Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, marking his first match since suffering a quadriceps tear during India’s Asia Cup 2025 clash against Sri Lanka.
Hardik’s Comeback Timeline
Hardik sustained the injury in the Asia Cup Super Four match in September and missed the final against Pakistan as well as the subsequent white-ball series against Australia.
He is currently in the final phase of rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is expected to regain full fitness by November 26, just in time to join Baroda for their opening Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy fixture.
The report adds that Hardik will likely feature in the first two matches of the domestic T20 competition before joining the national team setup for the South Africa tour.
India’s Upcoming Fixtures
Following the domestic assignment, Hardik is expected to be named in India’s squad for the:
- Three-match ODI series and
- Five-match T20I series against South Africa.
The first ODI is scheduled for November 30 in Ranchi, while the T20I series will follow immediately after.
Test Series Underway
Before the white-ball contests, Shubman Gill’s Test team will lock horns with World Test Championship winners South Africa in a two-match Test series, starting Friday at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
The second Test will be played at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium from November 22, marking the venue’s debut as a men’s Test match host after successfully staging multiple games during the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
In light of Delhi’s worsening air pollution, the original venue for the first Test was shifted to Kolkata, and match session timings have been tweaked to maximize natural light.
Key Dates
- Asia Cup Injury: September 2025
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Start: November 26, 2025
- 1st ODI vs South Africa: November 30, 2025, Ranchi
- Test Series: Nov 14–26 (Eden Gardens & Barsapara Stadium)