Gambhir says Hardik Pandya must bowl 10 overs before India return

Gautam Gambhir wants Hardik Pandya to prove he can bowl 10 overs before he returns to India's white-ball squads. Pandya hasn't played since the 2026 IPL and is still recovering from injury.

He'll have to complete the India A series against Australia A that starts on October 6. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been pulled from the Asian Games squad so he can play the West Indies ODIs instead.

Gambhir added that once Pandya regains full fitness and bowling rhythm, India could field both him and Reddy in the same XI.