Pandya returns, hopes for Test recall

India's Hardik Pandya took three wickets on the first day of his comeback match in Mumbai on Friday, and has targeted selection in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Playing for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, Pandya took the new ball and removed both openers inside the first 10 overs of the first-class match, before Mumbai's third-wicket pair – which included occasional India limited-overs batsman Shreyas Iyer – put on a monster 283-run stand. Iyer was in spectacular touch, hammering 178 from just 139 balls including 11 sixes, and Pandya wasn't spared, going at almost five an over from his 15 overs.

The 25-year-old finished the day with figures of 3-74, having early stated his desire to join the Indians in Australia following a significant layoff due to a back injury suffered in the Asia Cup.

"I'm done resting, being away from the game for so long," Pandya told TOI. "I wanted to come back smart and in the right way.

"I'm quite happy that I'm finally fit and ready to play cricket. I'm coming back after three months, I just want to express myself, play my best cricket and enjoy myself.

"I picked this Ranji Trophy game over (an option to play for) India A, because I want to play Tests.

"There is a chance that if I do well and the team requires me, I might be picked for the third and fourth Tests in Australia.

"I wanted to test my fitness in a four-day game, rather than a one-day, because this would exactly give me an idea of where I stand."

Pandya made his Test debut in July 2017 and has since played 11 Tests. In that time he is averaging 31 with both bat and ball.

Prior to the first Test, India captain Virat Kohli conceded the absence of a fast-bowling allrounder hurt the balance of his side.

"Losing the allrounder obviously has an impact," Kohli said. "I mean every side would like to have a fast-bowling allrounder, which we don't have right now with Hardik injured.

"That obviously is a great luxury to have for any side."

The third Test between Australia and India begins on December 26.

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval, India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar