Hardik Pandya’s is likely to be sidelined for a long time, and the all-rounder is likely to return to action during the next edition of the Indian Premier League in 2027. He is recovering from a stress injury to his calf.

The 32-year-old is currently working on his rehabilitation at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, with his return depending on progress through a fitness programme, according to Dainik Jagran.

His reports were reviewed by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala last week. Pandya will start jogging after three weeks, and the medical panel and the coaches will increase his workload gradually over the next eight weeks. His strength training is being stepped up by medical professionals to avoid any stress on the injured area of his body.

A timeline for his return hasn’t been revealed. He is almost certain to miss the home series against Sri Lanka as well. He hasn’t played cricket since the Indian Premier League 2026. His last game was for Mumbai Indians while his previous international assignment was the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

He missed three ODIs against Afghanistan and also the tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe. The veteran was not considered for three T20Is against Afghanistan in New Delhi, while he didn’t compete against the West Indies in three ODIs and five T20Is. Pandya was not part of the squad for the one-off T20I against Japan and also the Asian Games 2026.

The selectors didn’t discuss his name while picking the squads for the tour of New Zealand. The ODI series and T20I games against Sri Lanka are scheduled to start in December this year. The ODI series against Zimbabwe will be played in January next year.

Pandya’s career has been impacted by injuries, and he only plays white-ball cricket due to fitness issues. His absence has impacted the national team, but the management is backing him for the 2027 World Cup, considering his contributions with the bat and ball.