All-rounder Hardik Pandya bowled in top-flight cricket for the first time since returning from a back surgery more than a year ago during the second One-day International (ODI) at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

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Two days ago, after the first ODI, Pandya said he would bowl in the “important” games and only when the time is right, as per PTI reports. He added that bowling is part of his long-term goals.

On a day when the Indian bowlers found the going tough, Pandya returned impressive figures of 1/24 in four overs.

In the first over he bowled, Australian batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuchabugne were only able to score five runs, while only four runs were conceded in his second over.

As a long-term solution for consistent pain in his lower back since his injury in the Test series in England in 2018, Pandya underwent surgery in London, in October last year.

The surgery kept him out of action for nearly a year. He last played a T20 International against South Africa at home in September 2019.

With another 10 months left for the ICC T20 World Cup, Pandya had indicated on Friday that bowling is something that he wants to do keeping long-term goals and big events in mind.