Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - Team India have suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya ruled out due to a leg injury. Although Pandya had initially been cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru after completing fitness tests, a late setback has forced him to withdraw from the series.

According to BCCI sources, Pandya suffered a quadriceps strain and has been advised close to two weeks of rehabilitation. He will remain at the CoE to continue his recovery, while his availability for the ODI series against England next month remains uncertain. The injury comes after Pandya's recent struggles with back spasms during IPL 2026, which forced him to miss several matches for the Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, India have already lost Virat Kohli to a hamstring injury, with Yashasvi Jaiswal named as his replacement, while Rohit Sharma has been cleared to play.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently stated that Pandya remains a key part of India's ODI plans and that managing his workload is crucial ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. He added that resting the all-rounder from T20 cricket allows India to assess younger players like Nitish Reddy while ensuring Pandya remains fit for the 50-over format.

Pandya's absence is a significant blow to India's preparations for the Afghanistan series. However, with the 2027 ODI World Cup a major priority, the team management is focused on ensuring the all-rounder returns fully fit and ready to play a crucial role in India's future ODI campaigns.