MUMBAI: India's premier allrounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a quadriceps injury. The series is scheduled to begin in Dharamshala on June 13. Pandya had been undergoing intensive training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since June 2 and was expected to join the Shubman Gill-led squad in Dharamshala on June 11. However, the late injury setback is likely to keep him in Bengaluru for an extended period.
BCCI Confirms Pandya's Absence
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to TOI on Wednesday, stating, "Yes, Hardik has been ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan due to an injury." The squad already includes young allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a replacement option.
Previous Injury Concerns
Pandya had earlier missed a couple of matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a back spasm while leading the Mumbai Indians. He made a return for the team's final match of the campaign on May 24. For the home ODI series against Afghanistan, the BCCI had included Pandya and former India captain Rohit Sharma under a 'subject to fitness' condition. Rohit is understood to have passed the required fitness tests and is expected to join the squad shortly.
Future Availability
Pandya is expected to be available for the three ODIs against England, scheduled for July 14, 16, and 19, though the BCCI has not yet announced the squad for that tour. He remains a central figure in India's planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. To manage his workload and ensure his fitness for the ODI series against Afghanistan and England, the selectors did not include him in the T20I squad, despite his strong contributions in two T20 World Cup-winning campaigns.
