The Indian star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to return for domestic cricket before participating in international games. According to a report of the Times of India, hardik Apndya Pandya will be playing at least one game for Baroda, his domestic side, in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before heading towards the three-match ODI Series against South Africa starting on November 30. Notably, the SMAT will start on November 26, and Pandya has been instructed to play at least one competitive match before he returns to International cricket. Currently Hardik Pandya is in Bengaluru, at the Board of Cricket Control of India Centre of Excellence and is intensely training to be match fit. He is expected to play the first match in the 26th against Bengal. However, if his progress gets delayed, he will be playing against Puducherry on the 28th. Hardik won't be getting a break in between. He will join his team straight from Bengaluru and will then fly to Ranchi for the first ODI. Read also: Nitish Kumar Reddy Withdrawn from India Squad 2 Days Before Kolkata Test Hardik Pandya missed Asia Cup final for injury Hardik Pandya suffered a left quadriceps injury during India’s Asia Cup clash with Sri Lanka. The injury forced him to miss the final against Pakistan, and he has remained sidelined from competitive cricket since then. Pandya managed just 48 runs in four Asia Cup matches at an average of 16 and claimed only four wickets across six games, with an economy rate of 8.57. He also missed India’s ODI and T20I tours in Australia but is expected to return for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa. The three ODIs are scheduled in Ranchi, Raipur, and Visakhapatnam on November 30, December 3, and December 6. The five-match T20I series will follow, starting December 9 in Cuttack.