Hardik Pandya is unlikely to feature in India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting Saturday in Dharamsala, after picking up a leg strain during training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru earlier this week. Rohit Sharma, who was under the same fitness cloud, has meanwhile joined the squad in Mohali following the conclusion of the one-off Test.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Hardik is “at the CoE for rehab”, though the board has yet to release an official withdrawal. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is already with the team and could cover the gap if Hardik is formally ruled out.
Hardik played only ten of Mumbai Indians’ 14 IPL fixtures this season, missing a clutch of matches with back spasms before returning for their final outing on 24 May. That came on the back of the left-ankle injury he suffered during last year’s 50-over World Cup, a reminder of how stop-start his white-ball workload has become.
Selection chairman Ajit Agarkar spelled out the panel’s thinking last week. “He is a part of the one-day squad right now for the Afghanistan series. Like Jasprit Bumrah, if we can get him playing well and keep him fit for one-day cricket – he hasn’t played much ODI cricket for a while – that is the main objective,” Agarkar said. “We can always bring him back. So there will be a little bit of rest and rotation with regard to T20 cricket in Pandya’s case.”
The selectors left Hardik out of the T20I squad for the next month, focusing instead on the six ODIs – three against Afghanistan, three against England – as a stepping stone towards the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Management view the all-rounder’s bowling as vital to India’s balance but know the risk of rushing him back too soon.
Rohit’s clearance is a welcome boost. The captain had been managing a sore knee through the IPL but reported no discomfort after light batting and fielding drills in Mohali on Monday. Medical staff will monitor him during the final practice session on Friday, yet barring a setback he is expected to open alongside Shubman Gill.
For now, the camp is taking Hardik’s setback in stride. Afghanistan’s tour is viewed as a chance to fine-tune combinations rather than chase statement results, and there is time before England arrive. Still, India would rather have their premier seam-bowling all-rounder on the park than in the physio’s room.
An update from the BCCI is anticipated once the team’s medical panel completes further scans. Until then, the squad trains with 16 fit players, conscious that modern schedules leave little margin for error – or injury.
This story was updated after Rohit Sharma joined the ODI squad in Mohali.
