Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared a major concern over star India cricketer Hardik Pandya amid the home series against the West Indies. Team India are hosting West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is. He also added that Hardik Pandya’s recurring injuries without playing were a major concern for Team India. Hardik is not part of the West Indies series due to injury. He has been at the BCCI CoE for a while, undergoing rehabilitation and was all set to return for India A against Australia A. However, he was ruled out of the A series with a fresh shin injury during his time at the CoE.

“It is unfortunate for any player that Hardik is getting injured without playing. You play, get injured, and then get injured again during rehab. He is ruled out of the India A series as well and this will not give the management and selectors confidence. It is one thing to get injured if you keep playing and your workload increases,” he said on Star Sports.

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Irfan Pathan also shared that the Indian management needs to develop all-rounders who can fill in the shoes of Hardik Pandya. He added that Nitish Kumar Reddy would be backed as well.

“Whenever the chance is there, it is important for the management to develop two all-rounders. That is why you will see that Nitish will be backed. His responsibility is now to perform and stay fit. We have seen his graph going upwards. His pace has gone up and he has worked on his bowling. His work ethic is great and I have followed him. He has worked hard in the COE and is working on many things. From the management’s perspective, keeping an eye on two fast-bowling all-rounders and getting them ready, especially if your main bowler is an all-rounder and is constantly getting injured, it is important for someone like Reddy to play regularly,” he concluded.