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Last updated on - January 3, 2026, 5:36 PM IST
By
Ankit Kumar
While the BCCI may not yet consider Hardik Pandya fully fit for ODI cricket, the all-rounder has sent a strong message with his performance in domestic cricket. His display in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has become a topic of discussion.
The remarkable aspect of Hardik's century was that no other Baroda batsman managed to reach a half-century. Pandya anchored the innings, holding one end and guiding the team throughout.
Thanks to Hardik Pandya's innings, Baroda posted a strong total of 293 runs for nine wickets in 50 overs. His knock proved crucial for the team in challenging circumstances.
Despite this performance, Hardik Pandya was not included in the 15-member squad selected for the India–New Zealand ODI series. He last played an ODI match during the Champions Trophy in February 2025. India’s squad for New Zealand ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
The BCCI clarified that Hardik has not yet received clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to bowl 10 overs. His workload is being managed with the T20 World Cup 2026 in mind.
Having returned from an injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2025, Hardik is a key player in India’s T20 setup. Therefore, the board does not want to take any risks and is gradually bringing him back to full fitness.
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