New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- India head coach Gautam Gambhir has said Hardik Pandya will need more competitive cricket before returning to the national side, while confirming that the all-rounder is currently not ready to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in an ODI.

Gambhir spoke about Pandya on Thursday after India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Afghanistan with a 127-run victory in New Delhi. The comments came amid Pandya's absence from India's squads for the upcoming white-ball series against West Indies.

In Pandya's absence, Nitish Kumar Reddy has stepped up, and he impressed against Afghanistan, taking six wickets from three matches at an average of 13.16. Reddy, though, has been withdrawn from India's squad for the Asian Games ...