India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was spotted at the COE working hard on his fitness. He has not played a competitive match since the end of IPL 2026 after suffering a back spasm that forced him into rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He had been making steady progress in his recovery, completing a week of high-intensity training, bowling sessions and match simulation drills as before the ODI series. However, Hardik suffered a fresh setback a week later after developing a quadricep strain following mild soreness and stiffness during training. The injury ruled him out of the ODI series against Afghanistan and England, extending his wait for an international comeback since his last appearance in the format in 2025.
He had to miss the series plenty of matches due to injury and is working very hard to gain full fitness. As per the latest updates, Hardik is on the verge of returning to competitive action before being sidelined once again. The BCCI medical team is expected to continue monitoring his rehabilitation as he works towards regaining full fitness and making his long-awaited return to the field.
Hardik Pandya’s future with Mumbai Indians is under the spotlight ahead of IPL 2027
Mumbai, still one of the most successful sides in IPL history with five titles, has had a mixed run over the last three seasons. They finished well below expectations in 2024, bounced back to reach the playoffs in 2025, but failed to build on that in 2026. Another underwhelming season has stretched their title drought and pushed the management to take a hard look at the squad before the next auction cycle.
Pandya sits right at the centre of the conversation. He returned to Mumbai Indians in a high-profile trade from Gujarat Titans ahead of the 2024 season, was named captain, and has remained one of the team’s highest-profile players ever since. His performances and the side’s results have kept him under constant scrutiny throughout this second stint.
As per the latest reports, Hardik Pandya is likely to be traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the next season. However no official statement has been released by either franchise so far. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for the all-rounder.
Reports claim the Mumbai Indians management is considering big changes to the squad after another disappointing campaign. . With the 2027 season still months away, Pandya’s future is set to stay one of the biggest talking points in the build-up.
