Hardik Pandya’s fitness becomes a matter of concern

Towards the back end of the 2026 IPL, Hardik Pandya missed a few matches for Mumbai Indians after developing back spasms. He checked into the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru after the tournament and was picked for the home ODI series against Afghanistan, followed by three ODIs in England, subject to fitness clearance.

At the CoE, he was on the verge of receiving his clearance certificate — he even bowled his full quota of 10 overs in a match simulation — when another injury proved to be a roadblock: a quadriceps sprain. It ruled him out of the ODIs against Afghanistan and England. Hardik has been at the CoE since and was reportedly in the process of regaining full fitness. But now there is a report that he has suffered another setback — a leg niggle that could delay his return to competitive cricket.

India’s next white-ball assignment is a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting on September 13. Going by what chief selector Ajit Agarkar said at the team selection press conference for the UK tour and the Asian Games, Hardik was not supposed to be considered for the shortest format for the time being.

“He (Hardik) is part of the ODIs,” Agarkar had said at the press conference. “Just like Jasprit Bumrah, the main objective is to see if he can start playing well and stay healthy for the 50-over World Cup in 2027.”

This is also one of the reasons Hardik is not part of the Asian Games squad, where a full-strength Indian team will be in action. RevSportz reported on July 25 that, with the 2027 ODI World Cup the main focus, Hardik would be used mostly in the 50-over format in the lead-up to the quadrennial ICC showpiece. In that context, Hardik playing the upcoming T20Is, even if fit, would have contradicted the chief selector’s stated position.

The bigger question is Hardik’s recurring injuries. He has not featured in a competitive fixture since May 24 — Mumbai Indians’ last game in the 2026 IPL. As already reported by this website, Hardik has been undergoing a ‘performance block’ programme at the CoE. The latest injury may not be serious, and the BCCI medical team may have taken the decision to delay his return in line with the policy that a player will not be given clearance unless he is 100 per cent fit.

Then again, Hardik is 32 years old, and given his propensity to break down, every new injury puts both him and the Indian team in a spot of bother. Can he last until the 2027 World Cup, which is still more than a year away? The selection committee has started the process of keeping a back-up ready, but there is no one in Indian cricket who can match Hardik’s skill set as an all-rounder.

Hardik’s fitness has become a real matter of concern.

Meanwhile, the squad for the Afghanistan series is expected to be picked in the coming days. The selectors will soon get an update on the fitness status of the players who have been undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE.

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