Star Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya is nearing a return to the national team fold after a five-month hiatus, as he approaches full fitness and is all set to be picked for India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan next month, according to a report in The Times of India.
Besides Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy is also fit for selection, while Washington Sundar is nearing the clearances required to be picked for the Afghanistan series.
As per the report, both Pandya and Reddy have been training at BCCI Centre of Excellence and are operating at full capacity as they work towards their respective returns to international cricket.
Sundar, meanwhile, spent the weekend in Chennai and is expected to return to the CoE this week to prove his fitness
ahead of selection. The men’s senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, might meet this week to pick the team for the three T20Is.
“The practical target is the T20Is against Afghanistan and this will allow Sundar to ease back into the setup with the shortest format. His workload has gradually increased in the last few weeks and he could be available for selection for the three T20Is,” a source said while speaking to The Times of India.
“Both Reddy and Pandya have been at the CoE for a very long time now and just take breaks for personal commitments. Reddy only goes back home during the weekends, while Pandya has anyway moved base to Bengaluru,” the source added.
But the focus remains on ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the two-Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this month. The team management is keen to manage the pacer, keeping the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand later this year in mind.
Bumrah has been training at the CoE and while his participation in the Afghanistan T20Is could be a close call, he is expected to be available for the Asian Games provided there are no late setbacks in his rehab.
