Hardik Pandya Excluded from ODI Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Hardik Pandya's Injury Forces His Withdrawal

In a recent development, 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 kick off in Dharamsala on June 13, followed by the second match in Lucknow on June 17, and concluding in Chennai on June 20.

Sources indicate that Pandya had been previously cleared 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 final training session before leaving the CoE, he experienced some fitness concerns, according to a source.

It was earlier reported that both Rohit Sharma and Hardik's participation in the ODI series hinged on receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE.

Both players had sustained injuries during the IPL 2026 season while representing the Mumbai Indians, who are five-time champions.

Rohit Sharma has been dealing with a recurring hamstring issue, while Hardik is receiving treatment 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 he incurred during the IPL 2026 final, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar provided an update on Kohli's condition, stating that the exact recovery timeline is still uncertain. "With Virat, it's been less than a week since his injury in the 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," Agarkar noted.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included in the ODI squad to replace Kohli for the upcoming series.