The Indian team management stays concerned about star all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s repeated injury issues and is uncertain about his long-term fitness ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027. The senior cricketer was ruled out of the upcoming home ODI series against Afghanistan with a leg sprain, despite recently passing a fitness test.
Pandya had earlier suffered a back spasm in the course of the IPL 2026 season while representing the Mumbai Indians. The captain missed a number of matches towards the top of the tournament before returning for the ultimate league game against Rajasthan Royals on the Wankhede Stadium.
He has also been rested from India’s upcoming T20I commitments, including tours of Ireland and England, together with the Asian Games 2026. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that the management is prioritising Pandya’s workload for ODI cricket, which is currently the essential focus over the T20 format.
Nevertheless, the newest injury concern has made the team management cautious, with discussions underway about preparing a backup seam-bowling all-rounder ahead of the World Cup.
“The team doesn’t wish to get caught in a situation where they don’t have a seam-bowling all-rounder ready this near the World Cup. There have been discussions where they wanted to arrange for all times without Hardik,” a source told the Times of India.
In Hardik Pandya’s absence, Team India have turned to Nitish Kumar Reddy as their essential all-round option within the ODI squad. Nevertheless, the teen still lacks significant experience within the format, having debuted in the course of the 2025 Australia tour, which was interrupted by injury.
Reddy impressed during IPL 2026 with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, earning praise for his reworked bowling motion and added pace. In his transient ODI profession to this point, he has scored 100 runs in 4 matches at a mean of 33.33, though he continues to be trying to find his first wicket after bowling 15 overs.
Hardik Pandya Yet to Return to ODI Cricket Since 2025 Champions Trophy Final
Hardik Pandya was a part of Team India’s victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, but following the tournament, he was used only in T20Is. He later missed the Australia tour after suffering a quadriceps injury in the course of the closing stages of the Asia Cup 2025, a problem that also ruled him out of the ultimate.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 as a key focus, the selectors opted not to incorporate the all-rounder for the house ODI series against Latest Zealand and South Africa.
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