Hardik Pandya has reportedly suffered another fitness concern days before the India selectors are expected to announce the T20I squad for a three-match series against Afghanistan in New Delhi. Pandya was on track to make his competitive return in the series after a lengthy injury-forced layoff, but a leg niggle could delay his comeback.
According to a report in timesofindia.com, the India all-rounder had attained full fitness and was going at full throttle in the training sessions at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, due to the niggle, he has stopped bowling for now and there’s a possibility he may end up missing the Afghanistan T20Is starting September 13.
Pandya’s last on-field appearance came for Mumbai Indians during IPL
2026 on May 24. He was named in India’s ODI squad for a three-match series against Afghanistan at home but was ruled out due to a leg strain.
He also sat out from the white-ball tours of Ireland and England where India played eight T20Is and three ODIs.
“Hardik Pandya was operating at full intensity without any discomfort but he has been advised to pause bowling due to discomfort in the leg. He will resume soon, but the Afghanistan series is too close to reach the required fitness levels. Batting and movement-wise, there wasn’t any significant issue, but the CoE needs to be completely convinced before giving an all-clear,” the publication quoted a source as saying.
Pandya hasn’t played for India since the T20 World Cup final earlier this year in March.
Pandya isn’t the only star who has been laid low by injuries. BCCI’s CoE is under scrutiny with the recent spate of fitness concerns for a number of players including Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Reddy, among others.
The selection committee meeting will reportedly be held on September 3, with the Ajit Agarkar-led panel expected to stick with the same squad that will represent India at the 2026 Asian Games slated to be held in Japan later this month.
