Hardik Pandya ruled out for England ODIs, needs more time to regain fitness

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against England after failing to reach the required fitness level for over-50 cricket, India Today has learnt.

Sources said that Pandya is not available for selection for the England ODIs as he is yet to complete a full bowling load and needs more time to regain ODI fitness. The setback comes just as the 32-year-old looked close to returning to the format after a lengthy absence.

Pandya recently underwent an assessment at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru as he works through the back spasms he suffered during IPL 2026 while representing Mumbai Indians. He even played his full quota of 10 overs during practice, raising hopes of an early return.

However, in the course of rehabilitation, the all-rounder suffered another setback. Earlier this month Pandya was also ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after sustaining a fresh quadriceps strain. It is understood that the injury may have been related to the increased workload of bowling during his fitness assessment.

Pandya suffered an injury-hit IPL campaign with Mumbai Indians and missed several matches before returning for the team’s last few matches. His latest absence has now forced the selectors to look for a replacement at short notice ahead of the England series.

The setback comes at a crucial stage in India’s ODI planning. Pandya remains a key figure in the white-ball setup thanks to the balance he provides as a pace all-rounder and a strong finisher with the bat. His absence has often led India to search for the right combination, especially after the ankle injury he sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa firmly on the horizon, the team management has been keen to increase Pandya’s exposure to 50-over cricket while carefully managing his workload.

Chairman of selection committee Ajit Agarkar recently emphasized the importance of keeping Pandya fit for ODI cricket.

“He is part of the one-day team right now in Afghanistan. Like Jasprit Bumrah, if we can get him to play well and keep him fit for one-day cricket, that is the main objective,” Agarkar said.

“We can always bring him back. So there will be some rest and rotation in Pandya’s case with T20 cricket in mind.”

Meanwhile, India’s search for all-rounders continues. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently backed Nitish Kumar Reddy as Pandya’s long-term successor and backup, with the team management keeping a close eye on the youngster’s progress as he moves towards the 2027 World Cup.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 20, 2026 12:31 PM IST