India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was ruled out of the Test series in Australia after injuring his back in September, returned figures of 3/74 from 15 overs on his return to the field in a first-class match in Mumbai.
The 25-year-old had to be carried off the pitch after collapsing holding his back during the Asia Cup fixture against Pakistan. He made his comeback in the Ranji Trophy clash between Mumbai and Baroda on Friday, 14 December, and came through unscathed.
Pandya was handed the new ball, and dismissed the Mumbai openers – Aditya Tare (15) and Vilas Auti (12) – in quick succession. He then came back in the final session to claim his third scalp, seeing off Shivam Dube (37) in the 85th over.
While the wickets will help bolster his confidence, it was the 15 overs he bowled that were more important to assess his fitness. The all-rounder will hope to go through the four-day match without any niggles.
India have missed their seam-bowling all-rounder in Australia, and went with four specialist pacemen and a part-time spinner – G Hanuma Vihari – on a green track for the second Test in Perth.
