Hardik Pandya is poised to play in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda, where he will be under the captaincy of his elder brother, Krunal Pandya. While his name was initially absent from the 17-member squad announced by the Baroda Cricket Association, sources have confirmed that Hardik will be added to the team and will join them in Indore ahead of their opening match against Gujarat on Saturday.
This marks a return to domestic cricket for Hardik, who has been a key player for India. He recently featured in the four-match T20I series in South Africa, where he scored 59 runs and took two wickets across four games. Hardikās inclusion in the Baroda squad provides a significant boost for the team as they look to make an impact in Group B, alongside Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Tripura.
Barodaās initial squad only listed 17 players, with Hardikās addition expected to bring the usual 18-member squad to full strength. This move aligns with Hardikās previous commitment to make himself available for domestic white-ball competitions when not on national duty. His experience and all-round abilities will be a vital asset to Baroda as they navigate through the domestic tournament ahead of a busy international schedule.