Hardik Pandya has suffered another injury setback, ruling him out of India A’s upcoming one-day series against Australia in Puducherry. The all-rounder was expected to return to competitive cricket in the series beginning October 6, but a fresh shin injury has once again interrupted his rehabilitation.

The latest setback also raises concerns over Hardik’s availability for India’s upcoming T20I series in New Zealand. India are scheduled to play five T20Is from October 22, but the all-rounder is now doubtful to recover in time for the tour.

Another Setback During Rehabilitation

Hardik’s recent period away from competitive cricket has been dominated by fitness issues. The all-rounder has repeatedly come close to making a return before another injury has forced him to pause his progress.

In June, Hardik was expected to be part of India’s ODI plans for the series against Afghanistan. He had been working at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as part of his rehabilitation programme, but a quadriceps strain disrupted those plans.

The injury meant Hardik had to continue his recovery rather than push towards a return to international cricket. His latest shin problem has now created another hurdle just when he appeared to be approaching competitive action.

Australia A Series Return Falls Through

Hardik’s selection for the India A series against Australia had already been dependent on him receiving fitness clearance. The plan was for him to use the one-dayers in Puducherry as an opportunity to regain match fitness ahead of India’s international commitments.

However, with the opening game less than two weeks away, his latest injury has brought that comeback plan to an end.

The Australia A series was expected to be particularly useful for Hardik because regular competitive cricket would have allowed him to assess his fitness and rhythm in match conditions. Instead, he will have to return to rehabilitation and recovery once again.

For India, the development creates another question mark around their plans for the coming white-ball assignments, particularly with a five-match T20I series in New Zealand scheduled to begin later in October.

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New Zealand T20I Series Now in Doubt

Hardik’s availability for the New Zealand tour will depend on how quickly he recovers from the shin injury. The five T20Is are scheduled to start on October 22, leaving him with limited time to regain full fitness and return to competitive cricket.

The absence of a confirmed return date makes his situation difficult to assess at this stage. Even if his recovery progresses well, India’s selectors and medical team are likely to take a cautious approach given his recent injury history.

Hardik’s importance to India’s T20 setup is well established. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives the team balance, particularly in the middle order and during the bowling phase.

However, his repeated injury interruptions have made his workload and availability an ongoing consideration.

Long Gap Since International Cricket

Hardik has not played competitive cricket since this year’s IPL. He featured in 10 of Mumbai Indians’ 14 matches during the tournament but has remained away from the game since then.

His last appearance for India in T20Is came in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad in March. He also played a key role during that campaign before his international schedule was interrupted by fitness concerns.

In ODIs, Hardik’s most recent appearance came in the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Since then, his attempts to return to the format have repeatedly been affected by fitness problems.

The latest injury therefore extends an already frustrating period for the all-rounder.

India Face Another Selection Challenge

Hardik’s absence could force India to reassess their combination for the upcoming white-ball assignments. His role as a seam-bowling all-rounder provides an important tactical option, allowing the team to maintain batting depth without sacrificing an additional bowling option.

For Hardik himself, the immediate priority will be to recover fully rather than rush back simply to meet a particular deadline.

The Australia A series was supposed to be an important step in that process. Instead, the fresh shin injury means he will have to wait again before returning to competitive cricket.

With the New Zealand T20I series approaching, the next few weeks will determine whether Hardik can make another comeback attempt or needs more time on the sidelines. For now, his return remains uncertain, extending what has been a difficult stretch in his career away from the field.