Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is recovering from the acute back injury, which has already forced him to miss the cricket for more than two months. The 25-year-old is now focusing to return to the cricket in January 2019, during the three-match ODI series in the Australia tour.
During the final group stage match against Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) in the Asia Cup 2018 on 19 September 2018, Pandya suffered an acute back injury when he was bowling and soon he had to leave the ground on a stretcher. Since then, Pandya hasn’t played a match.
He has already missed the remaining Asia Cup from the Super Four stage, the whole Windies tour of India (two Tests, five-ODIs and three T20Is), the ongoing three-match T20I series in Australia and he is also going to miss the four-match Test series in Australia.
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At present, the 25-year-old is in the rehabilitation period. He has just started to bowl and wants to return to the Indian squad in January 2019 during the three-match ODI series in the Australia tour as he believes that he will soon back on the right track.
Recently, Hardik Pandya revealed his returning plan, “I’m trying hard to be fit for the ODI series against Australia to start in January 2019. To get back to full fitness, I’m going through rigorous bowling sessions in Mumbai. I have just started bowling after 60 days. Once I bowl a few overs in the ODIs, I think I should be on the right track.”
Also read: Hardik Pandya: My goal is to be as fit as Jacques Kallis
Meanwhile, Hardik is hopeful on the team’s success in the ongoing Australia tour. The 25-year-old believes that India is a formidable side and the players have the ability to strongly challenge the tough host nation.
Hardik said, “We are a formidable side and we should give a good fight to Australia who I believe are very strong in their own backyard. I am hoping for an exciting series.”
His elder brother, the 27-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya just made his international cricket debut in this month and has already played four T20Is.
Speaking on his elder brother’s opportunity, Hardik said, “I’m very happy to see Krunal representing the country Down Under.”
