Hardik Pandya Bids For Champions Trophy Selection; Set To Play In Vijay Hazare Trophy

Hardik Pandya [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]

Hardik Pandya is set to make his return to 50-overs cricket after a gap of over a year through the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 season. It is worth noting that the dashing Indian all-rounder has not played a single non-T20 match since injuring himself during the halfway stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India back in October last year.

Ever since his return to competitive cricket in early-2024, Pandya has played 38 matches, all T20s, including eight from India’s triumphant T20 World Cup run in the West Indies and the USA.

Pandya jumps back to Champions Trophy reckoning

Hardik Pandya, who has not played a single 50-overs match since October 2023, is set to make his return to the format on December 28 through the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 season for Baroda. Out of India’s ODI setup for a while, his upcoming Vijay Hazare appearances will likely be examined by the selectors and the team management as they aim to select a strong Indian ensemble for the highly-awaited 2025 Champions Trophy in February.

---

ALSO READ

[Watch] Hardik Pandya Instructs Security To Leave Young Fans Who Invaded Pitch In SMAT Semis

---

As per reports, Hardik Pandya will be making his 50-overs return through Baroda’s December 28 match against Bengal at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad. Under the leadership of Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya, the Baroda team has already defeated Tripura and Kerala in successive games to top the Group E points table of the tournament so far.

Hardik Pandya’s return will further bolster Baroda’s rampaging line-up as they bid to clinch their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title. The cricketer recently played seven T20 games for Baroda at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, before taking a break to address some ‘personal issues’, as per Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) secretary Ajit Lele.

The 2025 Champions Trophy, on the other hand, is scheduled to be played in February and March across three Pakistani and one UAE venue.

---

ALSO READ

Does The Rise Of Nitish Kumar Reddy Put Hardik Pandya's International Career In Danger?

---