Hardik Pandya’s recurring fitness issues have once again become a concern for the Indian cricket team, with his latest setback casting doubt on his return to international cricket. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia is scheduled to meet chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir in Mumbai on Thursday to discuss the all-rounder’s fitness and his road to recovery. Pandya was expected to make his comeback during India’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning September 13.
However, the Mumbai Indians star suffered another setback during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), forcing the team management to reassess his recovery timeline. According to reports, Pandya’s latest injury has raised particular concerns about his ability to bowl consistently. His bowling remains a crucial part of India’s plans, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, where a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder could provide the team with much-needed balance.
At present, Hardik Pandya is reportedly unable to bowl more than five or six overs in an ODI. While the latest issue does not appear to have significantly affected his batting movements, his bowling workload remains a major factor in determining when he can return to competitive cricket.
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Pandya has not played an ODI since India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. He has also been away from international cricket since India’s T20 World Cup triumph on March 8. A leg strain suffered after his initial selection ruled him out of India’s white-ball tours of Ireland and England.
The all-rounder has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence after suffering left quadriceps and calf injuries during IPL 2026. He also missed matches towards the end of the IPL campaign because of back spasms, further complicating his recovery.
🚨 BIG UPDATES ON HARDIK PANDYA 🚨
– Hardik Pandya fitness is big headache for team India.
– Hardik can’t bowls more than 5-6 overs in ODI cricket.
– Team mangement wants Hardik bowls full 10 overs quota in ODI World Cup 27.
– Discussion on Hardik Pandya fitness in BCCI… pic.twitter.com/7E2OIuwp9Y
— Vikas (@Vikas662005) September 2, 2026
During IPL 2026, Hardik Pandya scored 206 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 138.25 and claimed four wickets at an economy rate of 11.42. As captain of Mumbai Indians, he endured a difficult campaign as the five-time champions won only four of their 14 league matches and finished ninth in the standings, missing out on the playoffs.
With Pandya now ruled out of the Afghanistan T20I series, India have greater reason to remain cautious about his comeback. The selectors have included several players capable of contributing with both bat and ball, providing additional options while the all-rounder remains unavailable.
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For Hardik Pandya, the priority will be to complete his rehabilitation and regain full bowling fitness rather than rush back into international cricket. The BCCI has not yet provided a definitive timeline for his return, leaving his availability for India’s upcoming assignments uncertain. With the 2027 ODI World Cup firmly in the long-term picture, India will closely monitor Pandya’s progress before making any decision on his next competitive appearance.
