Hardik Pandya ruled out of England ODIs, needs more time to regain fitness
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against England after failing to attain the required fitness levels for 50-over cricket.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against England after failing to attain the required fitness levels for 50-over cricket, India Today has learnt.
Sources have indicated that Pandya is unavailable for selection for the England ODIs as he is yet to complete a full bowling workload and requires more time to regain ODI fitness. The setback comes just when the 32-year-old appeared close to making his return to the format after a prolonged absence.
Pandya had recently undergone an assessment at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as he worked his way back from a back spasm sustained during IPL 2026 while representing the Mumbai Indians. He had even bowled a full quota of 10 overs during training sessions, raising hopes of an imminent comeback.
However, the all-rounder suffered another setback during the rehabilitation process. Earlier this month, Pandya was also ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after sustaining a fresh quadriceps strain. It is understood that the injury may have been linked to the increased bowling workload during his fitness assessments.
Pandya endured an injury-disrupted IPL campaign with Mumbai Indians and missed several matches before returning for the team's final few games. His latest absence has now forced the selectors to look for a replacement at short notice ahead of the England series.
The setback comes at a crucial stage of India's ODI planning. Pandya remains a key figure in the white-ball setup due to the balance he provides as a pace-bowling all-rounder and a powerful finisher with the bat. His absence has often left India searching for the right combination, most notably after the ankle injury he suffered during the 2023 ODI World Cup clash against Bangladesh.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa firmly on the horizon, the team management has been keen to increase Pandya's exposure to 50-over cricket while carefully managing his workload.
Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar had recently underlined the importance of keeping Pandya fit for ODI cricket.
"He is a part of the one-day squad right now in Afghanistan. Like Jasprit Bumrah, if we can get him playing well and keep him fit for one-day cricket, that is the main objective," Agarkar had said.
"We can always bring him back. So, there will be a little bit of rest and rotation with regards to T20 cricket in Pandya's case."
Meanwhile, India's search for all-round options continues. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently backed Nitish Kumar Reddy as a long-term successor and backup to Pandya, with the team management closely monitoring the youngster's development as they build towards the 2027 World Cup.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against England after failing to attain the required fitness levels for 50-over cricket, India Today has learnt.
Sources have indicated that Pandya is unavailable for selection for the England ODIs as he is yet to complete a full bowling workload and requires more time to regain ODI fitness. The setback comes just when the 32-year-old appeared close to making his return to the format after a prolonged absence.
Pandya had recently undergone an assessment at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as he worked his way back from a back spasm sustained during IPL 2026 while representing the Mumbai Indians. He had even bowled a full quota of 10 overs during training sessions, raising hopes of an imminent comeback.
However, the all-rounder suffered another setback during the rehabilitation process. Earlier this month, Pandya was also ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after sustaining a fresh quadriceps strain. It is understood that the injury may have been linked to the increased bowling workload during his fitness assessments.
Pandya endured an injury-disrupted IPL campaign with Mumbai Indians and missed several matches before returning for the team's final few games. His latest absence has now forced the selectors to look for a replacement at short notice ahead of the England series.
The setback comes at a crucial stage of India's ODI planning. Pandya remains a key figure in the white-ball setup due to the balance he provides as a pace-bowling all-rounder and a powerful finisher with the bat. His absence has often left India searching for the right combination, most notably after the ankle injury he suffered during the 2023 ODI World Cup clash against Bangladesh.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa firmly on the horizon, the team management has been keen to increase Pandya's exposure to 50-over cricket while carefully managing his workload.
Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar had recently underlined the importance of keeping Pandya fit for ODI cricket.
"He is a part of the one-day squad right now in Afghanistan. Like Jasprit Bumrah, if we can get him playing well and keep him fit for one-day cricket, that is the main objective," Agarkar had said.
"We can always bring him back. So, there will be a little bit of rest and rotation with regards to T20 cricket in Pandya's case."
Meanwhile, India's search for all-round options continues. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently backed Nitish Kumar Reddy as a long-term successor and backup to Pandya, with the team management closely monitoring the youngster's development as they build towards the 2027 World Cup.
