India’s flamboyant all-rounder, Hardik Pandya’s return to competitive cricket has been delayed further as he has recently been ruled out of the limited overs’ leg of India A’s ongoing tour to New Zealand. He has now been expected to prove his fitness during Baroda’s Ranji Trophy match in Mumbai from December 14.

Pandya has been missing the competitive cricket ever since he faced the back injury during India’s Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai in September. While announcing the squads for India’s tour to Australia and India A’s tour to New Zealand last month, chief selector MSK Prasad had stated Pandya’s inclusion for the three one-dayers in New Zealand — on December 7, 9 and 11 — but it was subject to fitness.

As per the recent reports of Sportstar, it has been understood that after Hardik’s recent visit to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, the BCCI medical team expressed that the all-rounder still needs a week or so to become match-fit and advised against him traveling to New Zealand. As a result, the selection committee is expected to pick an apt replacement for Hardik, possibly from the pool of players who are featuring in the four-day series in New Zealand.

WATCH – Hardik Pandya Bowls In Nets After 2 Months

Hardik has often been seen uploading videos of his rehabilitation process since his injury and in the recent one, he was seen lifting weight and doing some intense field work as well. Here is the video of the same:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqtz2JkHT5V/

If Pandya manages to prove his fitness in the Ranji game against domestic giant Mumbai, there are certain chances that he will get considered for the for the last two Tests in Australia as he has been playing a crucial role in the national squad across formats.

However, considering the World Cup less than six months away, the selectors are unlikely to rush him into international cricket as if we plays Test cricket than the chances of the injury getting aggravated before the World Cup will be much higher.