Hardik Pandya Cleared To Bowl, Set For T20I Comeback Vs South Africa

India's premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, has been cleared to resume bowling following a rigorous rehabilitation stint at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, paving the way for his anticipated return to T20I cricket next month. The 32-year-old, who has been sidelined since a left quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup in September 2025, completed his Return to Play (RTP) protocols between October 21 and November 30, undergoing intensive strength, conditioning, and skill-based assessments.

BCCI medical staff declared him fully fit for competitive action in the shortest format, with Pandya expected to feature in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa starting December 10 in Durban. This green light comes as a timely boost for India's white-ball setup, which has felt the void of his explosive batting and versatile bowling since the injury also forced him to miss the Australia tour and the ongoing ODI series against the Proteas.

Pandya's injury setback occurred during a crucial Super Four clash against Bangladesh in Colombo, where he pulled up mid-over with a hamstring strain that escalated into a quadriceps tear, requiring immediate evacuation for scans and subsequent rehab. Under the supervision of CoE head physician Dr Nitin Patel and strength coach Paul Chapman, the all-rounder's recovery programme emphasised progressive loading, biomechanics analysis, and match simulations to mitigate re-injury risks—a protocol refined post his 2023 ankle surgery that had previously hampered his pace bowling.

Pandya, known for his ability to swing the new ball and hit sixes in the death overs, last played a T20I in the 2024 World Cup triumph, where his all-round contributions were pivotal. His RTP clearance, confirmed by BCCI insiders to PTI, underscores the board's investment in athlete longevity, especially for high-impact players like Pandya who bridge batting and bowling seamlessly.

The timing of Pandya's comeback aligns with India's packed T20I calendar ahead of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, where his role as a middle-order finisher and fifth bowler could be instrumental in fine-tuning team combinations. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has publicly backed Pandya's leadership potential despite recent captaincy controversies, is likely to integrate him gradually, potentially starting with controlled overs to monitor workload.

Teammates like Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant have shouldered the all-rounder duties in his absence, but Pandya's return adds depth to an already formidable lineup boasting talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma. South Africa, fresh off a competitive ODI series loss, will view his inclusion as a formidable challenge, especially given Pandya's historical edge over their middle order with his variations.

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As Pandya eyes a full-fledged resurgence, his journey from injury-prone tag to fitness benchmark inspires emerging talents in domestic circuits. With the T20I series serving as a litmus test for his readiness, a successful outing could solidify his spot in the World Cup squad and quash lingering doubts about his durability. The BCCI's CoE, established in 2021 to centralise rehab efforts, continues to prove its worth by fast-tracking recoveries without compromising safety, a model now emulated by state associations. Fans and selectors alike will watch closely as Pandya straps on his pads in Durban, marking not just a personal milestone but a strategic fillip for India's T20 ambitions in 2026.

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