India’s concerns over Hardik Pandya’s fitness have deepened, with doubts looming over his return for the England ODIs next month. The star all-rounder had already been ruled out of the Afghanistan series after suffering a quadriceps strain at the last moment. The recovery may take longer, forcing him out of the squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of the UK.
According to a report on Dainik Jagran, the injury has not healed sufficiently, making him unavailable for the upcoming England ODI series as well.
Hardik Pandya’s injury concerns have once again put India in a tricky spot ahead of the ODI World Cup preparations. Earlier this month, Pandya went to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to get clearance for a back spasm he suffered
during the IPL while playing for the Mumbai Indians. However, during rehab, he picked up a fresh quadriceps strain, which has delayed his return further.
This latest setback is a concern for the team management, which wants to increase his workload in ODIs before next year’s World Cup. But with injuries repeatedly interrupting his schedule, there are doubts over how much cricket he will be able to play in the lead-up to the tournament.
Pandya’s fitness issues have impacted India’s plans before as well. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, he suffered a left ankle injury in a group-stage match against Bangladesh, forcing the team to reshuffle its combination midway through the tournament.
Despite these concerns, Pandya remains an important part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. At the same time, the selectors and team management are keeping backup options ready.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has emerged as a strong alternative, with India gradually giving the young all-rounder more chances in ODIs to prepare him for a bigger role in the future.
