Pandya starts bowling at NCA post UK check-up

New Delhi: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya's back has been the cynosure of all eyes ever since he underwent surgery in UK in October. While there has been a slight delay in him gaining full fitness, the good news is that he has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after returning from a check-up in UK.

An NCA source in the know of developments said that Pandya has started working on his bowling at the academy and should be available for selection soon.

"He is back from the UK after a routine check-up and has also started bowling from this week. He should be available for selection soon. Can look at him with an eye on the South Africa series as you still have a month to go for the first ODI against the Proteas in Dharamsala," the source said.

Commenting on the trip he made to the UK to get checked by spinal surgeon James Allibone, the source said: "It was a routine check and there wasn''t anything more to it." Both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah had earlier hired the services of Delhi Capitals trainer Rajnikanth Sivagnanam to undergo rehab post their injuries. While Yogesh Parmar kept an eye on Pandya''s progress post his back surgery, Nitin Patel studied every process that Bumrah followed during his rehab after the stress fracture the pacer had suffered on his back.post-UK