Gambhir rules out rushing Pandya back after 3-0 T20I sweep over Afghanistan
India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said Hardik Pandya is not yet ready to bowl the full quota of 10 overs of the 50-overs format and stressed that the star all-rounder will not be rushed back into international cricket.
Pandya, a key component of India's limited-overs setup, has often been managed carefully because of his fitness issues and workload.
Gambhir also suggested that once Pandya regains full bowling fitness, India could accommodate both him and young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI.
"Hardik Pandya cannot bowl 10 overs at the moment. We don't want to rush him into international cricket. When he is fit, there is a possibility of both he and Nitish playing," Gambhir said.
The coach's comments, coming after India's 127-hammering of Afghanistan in the third T20I for a 3-0 series sweep, indicate that Pandya's return will depend on his ability to contribute as a genuine all-rounder rather than being picked solely for his batting, with the management looking to utilise him more in the ODI format.
Pandya had been named in the India A squad for the one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, pending final fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
