In a major setback for the Indian cricket team, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is unlikely to make his international return in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan after encountering a fresh fitness hiccup.
Pandya’s availability had been one of the main talking points after his long spell at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Pandya has been advised to pause bowling during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru due to leg discomfort, according to a report by Times of India. Notably, the Ajit Agarkar-led senior men’s selection committee is likely to meet this week to finalize the squad for the Afghanistan T20Is, which will be played on September 13, 15 and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
With the national selectors preparing to finalize the squad, the CoE’s cautious approach means India will likely have to navigate the Afghanistan T20I series without their premier seam-bowling all-rounder to ensure he is fully fit for subsequent marquee tournaments. Team management has been clear that they do not want a half-fit Pandya bowling reduced overs or breaking down again with a World Cup cycle still ahead.
