BCCI Not In Hurry To Pick Hardik Pandya In ODIs, Reason Revealed

Hardik Pandya [Source: AFP]

India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is currently not being considered for every bilateral ODI series by the BCCI. Instead, the board is focusing on keeping him fully fit for 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. 

Although his recent injury delayed his return, the management believes that managing his workload now will help him perform at his best during the marquee tournament.

Earlier, Hardik had started an intensive training programme at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru as part of his preparations for 2027 World Cup. However, another injury during his recovery forced the board to change its plans and focus on his long-term fitness.

Notably, Hardik had suffered a back spasm during IPL 2026. After that, he underwent rehabilitation at CoE and even bowled his full quota of 10 overs in training sessions.

BCCI Wants Hardik Pandya To Regain Fitness

However, just before India's ODI series against Afghanistan, he picked up a low-grade quadriceps strain. Consequently, he missed the series against both Afghanistan and England. 

According to a RevSportz report, the injury was only a minor setback, although it delayed his fitness clearance. 

The report further stated that Hardik is currently following a special "performance block" programme. Rather than rushing him back for a bilateral series, the BCCI wants him to regain peak fitness and maintain it until the 2027 World Cup.

"Hardik's recovery had a few hiccups, but it's absolutely fine now," said a source, according to the report.

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Why BCCI Is Not Prioritising Hardik's Selection

According to the report, the BCCI does not want Hardik to play every white-ball series over the next year. Instead, he will mainly be used in the 50-over format whenever required. Therefore, bilateral ODI series are no longer the top priority for the all-rounder.

Notably, the Indian board believes that carefully managing his workload will reduce the risk of another injury. As a result, the main objective is to have a fully fit Hardik Pandya available for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

"The focus is on the 2027 World Cup, where it would be imperative to have a fully fit Hardik," the source said.

India Still Searching For Hardik Pandya's Backup

Meanwhile, India continue to search for a reliable backup for Hardik Pandya. Although several fast-bowling all rounders have been tested, none have been able to match his overall impact.

Notably, Harshit Rana is one of the leading contenders and has taken 26 wickets in 14 ODI innings while also scoring 124 runs. However, injuries have also affected his progress. On the other hand, Shivam Dube has struggled to make an impact in ODIs. He has scored only 43 runs and picked up just three wickets in six innings.

It is also worth noting that Nitish Kumar Reddy has also emerged as a promising option, backed by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. Although NKR has played limited international cricket, he has been impressive in List A matches, scoring 679 runs in 25 innings and taking 23 wickets in 32 innings.

Despite these emerging players, Hardik remains India's most valuable pace-bowling all-rounder. So far, he has scored 1,904 runs and taken 91 wickets in 94 ODIs. Therefore, if he stays fit, his experience and match-winning ability will be crucial to India's hopes of lifting the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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