India all-rounder Hardik Pandya made his return to action on Friday, linking up with his first-class side Baroda for their Ranji Trophy clash against Mumbai.
Pandya has not played since the Asia Cup, and skipped the India A limited-overs tour to New Zealand in order to focus on returning for India’s ongoing Test series in Australia.
The 25-year-old picked up the first two Mumbai wickets to fall on Friday after Baroda won the toss and elected to field – a decision that looked wise when Pandya’s opening burst left Mumbai at 28/2, but soon started to seem like the wrong call as the visitors’ middle-order piled on the runs to reach 333/3.
If Pandya proves his fitness in this four-day game, he could potentially be drafted into India’s squad for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, the third Test of the series.
India are currently 1-0 up, with Friday also the first day of the second Test in Perth.
