Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to injury before the Asia Cup final.
While Gautam Gambhir ponders on how to level the ongoing Test series against South Africa, the next assignment for India would be the three ODIs against the Proteas. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would dominate the headlines in the series, a major development has come across. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are set to sit out from the three one-day internationals that start from November 30.
Hardik Pandya a big miss for India
Pandya’s fitness has been a running story for a while now. He first pulled up during the Asia Cup group game against Sri Lanka, where he felt the left quad tighten midway through his spell. He didn’t complete his overs, and two days later, India walked into the final against Pakistan without their most important all-rounder.
Shivam Dube filled in admirably, even chipped in with crucial contributions, but Pandya’s absence stuck out because of the balance he brings. India didn’t just lose a sixth bowler; they lost a middle-order insurance policy who can hit pace or spin and take the new ball to share the workload with Bumrah.
Hardik Pandya injury update
After sitting out the Asia Cup final, he also missed the white-ball series against Australia. The BCCI medical staff advised rest and a structured return, which is why he reported to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
“Hardik is recovering well from his quadriceps injury at the moment. He is at the Centre of Excellence doing his RTP (Return To Play) routines. As of now, returning from quadriceps injury, he needs to build up his workload and straightaway playing 50 overs will be risky. Till the T20 World Cup, the BCCI medical team and Hardik would focus on T20Is,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
He has been working with the physios for over a week and is expected to mark his competitive return in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda. If he doesn’t make the first game, the second is the likely entry point. Once he gets through that without discomfort, clearance for India duty should follow. Even so, the selectors don’t want him anywhere near a 50-over load before the T20 World Cup. That’s why the South Africa ODIs are off the table.
What about Jasprit Bumrah?
Bumrah’s case is different. He hasn’t played an ODI since the series against Australia earlier this year, but not due to injury. His workload is being rationed with some care. He has been bowling at full tilt in Tests, looked sharp in the shorter formats, and is basically in that rare phase where he looks unbothered by anything. India don’t want to burn overs in a bilateral a few months before a major ICC event. Keep him in rhythm with red-ball cricket, use him selectively in T20Is, and avoid unnecessary 10-over days.
The bigger picture, of course, is the T20 World Cup in 2026. If India are going to make a serious run, these two need to be bubbled, padded and protected like museum pieces. Both are virtually irreparable.
India vs South Africa ODI schedule
- India vs South Africa – 1st ODI – Ranchi – 30 November
- India vs South Africa – 2nd – Raipur – 3 December
- India vs South Africa – 3rd ODI – Vizag – 6 December
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