Hardik Pandya Excluded from ODI Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Hardik Pandya's Injury Update

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to an injury, as confirmed by sources. The series is set to commence in Dharamsala on June 13, followed by the second ODI in Lucknow on June 17, and concluding with the final match in Chennai on June 20.

Fitness Concerns Before Departure

Sources indicate that Pandya had been cleared for fitness by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and had submitted his fitness report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) just two days prior to the team's departure. However, after his last training session, he experienced some fitness issues.

"He was deemed fit by the CoE and sent his fitness report to the Board two days before, but after his final session, he encountered some fitness concerns," a source revealed.

Injuries Affecting Senior Players

Previously, it was reported that the participation of senior players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya in the ODI series against Afghanistan was contingent on receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE. Both players suffered injuries during the IPL 2026 season while representing the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma is recovering from a persistent hamstring issue, while Pandya is being treated for ongoing back spasms that affected him towards the end of IPL 2026.

Additionally, Virat Kohli has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title.

Virat Kohli's Recovery Status

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar provided an update on Kohli's condition, stating that the exact timeline for recovery is still uncertain. "With Virat, it's been less than a week since his injury in the IPL 2026 final, so they will assess his condition. We don't have a clear timeline yet, but he might be fit for the England ODI series. However, this is not a definitive answer, so please don't hold me to it. We haven't received a clear timeline from the physio yet," Agarkar mentioned.

In Kohli's absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included in the ODI squad for the series against Afghanistan.