Kamal Ghorui
Hardik Pandya is set to make his much-awaited return to the Indian team in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting Wednesday. The series will mark Pandya’s first appearance for India since he picked up an injury during last year’s Asia Cup, an issue that forced him to miss several key international assignments. Having recovered fully, the star all-rounder is now ready to resume duties in India colours.Ahead of the opening T20I, the BCCI shared a light-hearted video from India’s net session that quickly caught fans’ attention.
In the clip posted on X (formerly Twitter), Pandya was seen flexing his batting muscle, much to the amusement of teammates and head coach Gautam Gambhir. As he prepared to unleash a big hit, Pandya was heard asking spectators seated in the stands to move aside.Gambhir, watching from nearby, jokingly asked, “Tum kaha aim kar rahe ho? North Wing?” (Where are you aiming?). Pandya replied confidently, “On the first tier.” Moments later, after witnessing one of Pandya’s towering sixes, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t help but react, saying, “Abbey second tier pe maar diya?” (He hit it all the way to the second tier?).The T20I series also signals the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who rejoins the squad after being rested during the ODI leg. Together, the comeback of Pandya and Bumrah significantly strengthens India’s T20 setup.Captain Suryakumar Yadav, meanwhile, will be keen to stamp his authority further as a leader and rediscover his aggressive batting touch against New Zealand. Since he became captain in 2024, Suryakumar has led India to an impressive series of results. The team has won eight T20I series in a row and holds a 29-5 record, which includes two super over victories, since claiming the world title in Bridgetown.However, it has been a challenging time for him personally. The 2025 season was his toughest yet while playing for India, resulting in only 218 runs from 19 matches at a strike rate just above 123, and he didn’t score a single fifty.
