After the second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati, the two cricketing giants are set to collide in a three-match ODI series. However, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah could miss the assignment.
With next year's T20 World Cup being on the horizon, star all-rounder Hardik, currently recuperating from a quadriceps injury, is unlikely to feature in the upcoming ODI series, commencing on November 30. He is expected to focus exclusively on the shortest format for now.
Hardik sustained a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai last September and incidentally missed the summit clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.
On the other hand, talismanic speedster Bumrah is also in line to be rested from the ODI series, which doesn't bear much importance in the build-up to the marquee T20 competition.
"Hardik is recovering well from his quadriceps injury at the moment. He is at the Centre of Excellence doing his RTP (Return To Play) routines. As of now, returning from quadriceps injury, he needs to build up his workload and straightaway playing 50 overs will be risky. Till the T20 World Cup, the BCCI medical team and Hardik would focus on T20Is," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by India Today on conditions of anonymity.
India will enter the 2026 T20 World Cup as defending champions. Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, the Men in Blue won the coveted silverware for the second time. During the showpiece event, Bumrah and Hardik stood out with their performances.
Hardik contributed with both bat and ball. He bowled the final over in the nail-biting final against South Africa, which India won by seven runs in Bridgetown, Barbados. Meanwhile, Bumrah was awarded Player of the Tournament after finishing with 15 scalps from eight games at an average of 8.27 and an economy rate of 4.18.
South Africa's tour of India will come to an end after they play a five-match T20I series against India. The first T20I is set to be played at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on December 9.
