It has been confirmed that Pandya will play for Baroda in their Vijay Hazare Trophy matches against Vidarbha on January 3 and Chandigarh on January 8. However, he will skip the January 6 match against Jammu & Kashmir to allow adequate recovery time.
“Yes, it has been confirmed that Hardik will appear for Baroda in their Vijay Hazare matches on January 3 and 8, which are against Vidarbha and Chandigarh. He will not be there for the match against Jammu & Kashmir on January 6 as he needs adequate break to manage his load ahead of the T20 World Cup. Hardik was keen to feature in the ODIs against New Zealand but the team’s think tank advised him to rest from the series as they want him in good condition for the subsequent T20I series and the all-important T20 World Cup,” said a source familiar with the matter.
Pandya and Bumrah to skip NZ ODIs
While the 32-year-old was keen to be part of the ODI series against New Zealand from January 11, the Indian team’s think tank advised rest. With the five-match T20I series against the same opponents starting on January 21 and the T20 World Cup scheduled for February 7, the focus has shifted to keeping the all-rounder in top condition.
He last played an ODI in March during the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai. Injuries have since depleted his availability. A left quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup Super Fours in September sidelined him for subsequent tours. However, the all-rounder made a strong return during India’s recent T20I series win over South Africa, resuming full bowling and batting duties and showing no signs of rust.
Alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Pandya remains one of the key players in India’s T20 World Cup plans. While Bumrah has been completely exempted from Vijay Hazare Trophy duties, Pandya’s limited domestic appearances are also in line with the BCCI’s directive that centrally contracted players participate in domestic cricket without compromising long-term fitness.
India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series is expected to be announced in early January, with Shubman Gill likely to return as captain. Meanwhile, the selection committee will also keep an eye on Shreyas Iyer’s recovery and deliberate on wicketkeeping options.
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