New Delhi. In view of a big tour of Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, India’s white-ball specialist Hardik Pandya is planning to return to action after a break by participating in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, sources said the India all-rounder also wants to play Ranji Trophy for his state, indicating a return to red-ball cricket and hopes of playing Test cricket again. Pandya, the star of India’s victory in the T20 World Cup in 2024, is likely to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda, sources said on Friday.
According to sources, the India all-rounder has expressed his desire to play domestic white-ball cricket to the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA). The source said that Hardik also wants to play in the Ranji Trophy. Keeping the Australia series in mind, he is looking to return to Test cricket. Pandya is not involved in the current Duleep Trophy, but it is felt that his desire to play in the Ranji Trophy may be an attempt to join the Indian Test team for the prestigious five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy series. Hardik last played white-ball cricket in two T20 matches against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in July after India’s victory in the T20 World Cup in June.