Hardik Pandya's Injury Woes Continue As IPL 2027 Emerges As Potential Comeback Target

India's fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya will have to wait several more months before returning to competitive cricket, with a fresh report suggesting that the India all-rounder could be back in action only during IPL 2027, which will likely to start from March.

Pandya is currently recovering from a stress injury on the inner side of his calf. The 32-year-old is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, and his return will depend on how he responds to the ongoing recovery process, The Daily Jagran understands.

The allrounder’s medical reports were reviewed by Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala last week, according to information available with The Daily Jagran.

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Pandya’s rehabilitation is being carried out in stages, with the medical team taking a cautious approach to avoid putting extra stress on the injured area. He is expected to start jogging after three weeks, after which his running workload will gradually increase over the next eight weeks.

His strength training is also being increased carefully under medical supervision. However, there is no confirmed timeline for his return to full match fitness yet.

Hardik Pandya Set to Miss Sri Lanka Series

If Pandya’s recovery takes longer than expected, he could miss India’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka as well. The series is scheduled to begin on December 13.

The allrounder has already missed a considerable amount of cricket in 2026 because of his fitness concerns. He was unavailable for India’s three ODIs against Afghanistan at home, as well as the tours of Ireland and England, where the team played eight T20Is and three ODIs.

Pandya also missed the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe, three T20Is against Afghanistan in New Delhi, and the home white-ball series against the West Indies, which featured three ODIs and five T20Is.

He was also absent from the Asian Games 2026 and India’s historic one-off T20I against Japan.

Pandya was not included in India’s squad for the New Zealand tour either, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his return to international cricket.

IPL 2027 To Be His Next Target

Apart from the Sri Lanka series, Pandya could also miss the ODI series against Zimbabwe, which is scheduled to begin on January 3.

If his recovery extends into the new year, IPL 2027 could become his next opportunity to return to competitive action. However, his participation will depend on his progress during rehabilitation and the medical team’s assessment of his fitness.

Pandya's last cricketing outing came in IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians in May. His most recent international assignment was the final of the T20 World Cup in March 2026.