Gautam Gambhir sets Hardik Pandya return condition after quadriceps injury

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said Hardik Pandya will not be rushed back into the ODI side until he can bowl a full quota of 10 overs. Pandya has not played since sustaining a quadriceps injury at the end of IPL 2026 and was left out of the West Indies series squad.

Gambhir confirmed that Pandya must first prove his fitness in the India A series against Australia A in October. He added that once Pandya returns, there is a possibility of playing both him and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the same XI as seam-bowling all-round options.

Nitish has been withdrawn from the Asian Games squad to focus on ODIs and will gain valuable game time against the West Indies while Pandya recovers.