India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting Saturday in Dharamsala. He picks up a fresh quadriceps strain, only hours after being cleared to play, during fitness tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Pandya had travelled to the Centre of Excellence to get clearance for a back spasm injury. He picked that issue during the IPL while playing for Mumbai Indians. It is learnt the new strain came after he bowled a full 10-over spell during assessment.
The ODI series against Afghanistan begins in Dharamsala on Saturday. The next matches take place in Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. A BCCI source says three weeks are needed for recovery, ruling him out of the current
series.
The source explains that his rehabilitation will not finish in time. "With three weeks for recovery, there is absolutely no chance of him playing the ODI series as his rehabilitation will not be complete," the source states. The BCCI has not yet named a replacement player.
Injury history and recent IPL return
Pandya had missed some IPL games for Mumbai Indians due to his back issue. He then returned to action for their final league match. That game was against Rajasthan Royals on May 24, where he played after medical clearance.
The latest setback comes for the 32-year-old all-rounder at an important stage. The team management wants him to play more ODI cricket. This plan links to next year's ODI World Cup and broader planning for major white-ball tournaments.
Pandya's left ankle injury in the 2023 ODI World Cup changed India's team balance. That injury came during a first-round match against Bangladesh. Despite repeated fitness issues, he remains central to India's planning for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
To keep him ready for one-day cricket, selectors left him out of recent T20 squads. This is despite him being part of two T20 World Cup-winning campaigns. They want him fresh for six upcoming ODIs, three against Afghanistan and three against England.
Selector Ajit Agarkar on Pandya's management
Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had explained the strategy last week. "He is a part of the one-day squad right now in (the) Afghanistan (series)," he told reporters. He compared their ODI focus on Pandya to that for Jasprit Bumrah.
"Like (Jasprit) Bumrah, if we can get him playing well and keep him fit for one-day cricket - I don't think he's played one-day cricket for a while - that is the main objective," Agarkar said. He added there will be rest and rotation for Pandya in T20s.
