India coach Gautam Gambhir says Hardik Pandya needs to improve his match fitness before he can return to the national team. Gambhir indicates that Pandya’s next steps should focus on playing enough competitive cricket to restore his form.
Both outlets report that Gambhir points to upcoming matches—including the possibility of playing for India A—as part of the route back. The messaging is framed as a clear expectation that Pandya’s fitness and performance need to be proven in action before selection consideration.
In the same discussions, Gambhir also highlights team planning beyond Pandya. The focus includes developing Nitish Kumar Reddy as a seam-bowling all-rounder, with the broader aim of building a squad that offers flexibility for future competitions. Across sources, the emphasis is on performance readiness for Pandya and on talent development for the team’s longer-term balance.
