The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s men’s cricket team squad for the upcoming England ODI series on June 21. Prior to the reveal, reports had already suggested that Hardik Pandya won’t be included. The all-rounder was initially expected to play in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series but wasn’t fit to return.
Hardik was dealing with a back injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season and had been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru from June 2. Initially, back spasms were the concern. At Hardik’s request, a performance block programme was prepared.
All was going well. However, just before the India vs Afghanistan ODI series could commence, Hardik sustained a quadriceps injury. The all-rounder was advised to rest for 4 to 5 days and to follow a 3-week training programme afterwards to come back to full fitness.
Prior to the BCCI naming the squad, Hardik had started light training on June 16. That would mean the fast-bowling all-rounder would most likely regain fitness by early July and be fit for selection for the India vs England ODI series, which commences on July 14. Yet, Hardik hasn’t been picked.
“Hardik experienced a minor/low grade tenderness in his leg on June 9. He voluntarily got the leg scanned as a precautionary measure. The scans were sent to Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala in Mumbai, who advised him a 4-5 day rest followed by a three-week training programme to come back to full fitness. He started light training on June 16,” a source told Cricbuzz.
Why Virat Kohli was picked and Hardik Pandya wasn’t
For the Afghanistan series, there was an asterisk next to Rohit Sharma’s name. He too was recovering from an injury. But he regained fitness in time and played all 3 matches. For the England series, there is an asterisk next to Virat Kohli‘s name, who’s struggling with a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 season. If Kohli can be included with a ‘subject to fitness’, why not Hardik?
The answer isn’t simple. Unlike Kohli, Hardik has a long history of injuries and delayed returns. The Afghanistan series is another example. He was expected to be playing last week, but as things stand, his comeback has been pushed back 4 weeks. It’s learnt that Hardik underwent a fitness test at the CoE for the India vs England ODI series but failed to bowl his quota of 10 overs.
Now, Hardik isn’t expected to bowl 10 overs per match. He delivers 39 balls or 6.3 overs per game in ODI cricket. But he needs to be prepared to deliver his entire quota, that too under pressure. There’s no use rushing him. In India’s ICC trophy runs in the past 3 years, Hardik has played a seminal role. One can argue that, without him, India may not have won even 1 title.
The BCCI won’t risk Hardik for the ODI World Cup 2027. India needs him and Jasprit Bumrah, the two biggest weapons in white-ball cricket, to be fit for that tournament. Missing the India vs England ODI series doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
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