Hardik Pandya ODI (Source: AFP)
After two long months of the T20 carnival, the Indian Premier League 2026, Indian Cricket Team fans were all set for the highly anticipated Afghanistan’s multi-format series in India.
Ideally, the series was expected to mark the return of high-profile players like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rohit Sharma.
However, India have suffered multiple blows to their ODI squad ahead of the IND vs AFG three-match ODI series, which will begin India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa. After Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya has also been ruled out of the ODI series.
Pandya ruled out of ODI series vs Afghanistan
Hardik injured his back during IPL 2026 while playing for the Mumbai Indians. The MI captain only played 10 matches in the tournament and was away from the team for a few games of the league stage.
Hardik has now suffered a quadriceps injury, which will take 3 weeks to heal.
The all-rounder was at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to get clearance for the back spasm injury that he sustained in the IPL. It is learnt that the new injury could be a result of him bowling his full quota of 10 overs at CoE during the assessment.
Pandya’s injury adds another layer of uncertainty to the Indian team, which is already without the services of Virat Kohli. The talismanic India batter was injured in the IPL final against Gujarat Titans, when he pulled his hamstring while batting.
Also read: Hardik Pandya Replacements- Indian Players To Join ODI Squad vs Afghanistan
Apart from Kohli, there is uncertainty around the availability of former India captain Rohit Sharma as well, who struggled with fitness in the IPL months.
Pandya’s absence has prompted questions about his availability for the senior men’s team.
When was the last time Hardik Pandya played an ODI for India?
Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s last ODI match for India was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In the title-clinching victory, he went wicketless and conceded 30 runs in his 3 overs. With the bat, Pandya played a crucial 18 off 18 down the order after wickets feel in quick successions.
Since that match, the player has been sidelined from the 50-over international cricket due to a series of fitness issues.
How many tournaments has Hardik Pandya missed due to injury?
A vital cog for India in the white-ball, Pandya has also missed several important tournaments for the national team. The most notable absences are as follows:
2018 Asia Cup
Hardik’s campaign in the tournament ended abruptly when he sustained an acute lower back injury during a group-stage match against Pakistan.
While bowling his fifth over, he collapsed in pain in his follow-through and had to be stretchered off the field, ruling him out of the remainder of the tournament.
2021 T20 World Cup
His participation in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was highly scrutinised due to a persistent back injury, as he was selected in the squad primarily as a specialist batter and was unable to contribute with the ball.
He bowled a total of just 4 overs across the entire tournament, spread out across the matches against New Zealand and Afghanistan, and went wicketless. Pandya also struggled to make a significant impact with the bat, scoring just 11 runs against Pakistan and 23 runs against New Zealand in India’s opening defeats.
2023 ODI World Cup
Pandya was ruled out of the coveted ICC tournament after suffering a left ankle injury during a league match against Bangladesh in Pune. While attempting to stop a shot with his foot during his first over, he twisted his ankle and could not continue.
2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan
The star Indian all-rounder also had to miss the high-octane final in the recently held Asia Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan due to a quadriceps injury he sustained during the Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka.
Though India clinched the title, Hardik’s absence was a big concern for the Suryakumar Yadav-led India going into the title clash.
When injuries forced an abrupt end to Hardik Pandya's Test career
Lastly, Hardik Pandya’s Test career was also marred by persistent injuries. He played in 11 Tests for India, scoring 532 runs at an average of 31.29 and taking 17 wickets.
Although he made a strong start, recurrent injuries and workload management effectively ended his career in the longest format, prompting him to focus on limited-overs cricket.
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