Hardik Pandya Ruled Out For 4 Weeks, Set To Miss Australia ODI Series. Hardik Pandya is set for a minimum four-week absence due to a left quadriceps injury. It is a big blow to Team India as they head for a tour of Australia shortly. The injury to Pandya’s left quadriceps occurred during the Super 4 fixture against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup when he walked off the field after bowling just one over. He missed the final against Pakistan, which India won.
Reportedly, Pandya has been advised to take a prohibitive rest by his medical team. This keeps him out of competitive cricket for a month and will reduce his chances of featuring in the ODI series against Australia starting on October 19. This could rule him out totally. BCCI does not yet have a full medical bulletin on his injury. Sources close to his rehab keep saying it is looking worse than they thought.
A T20I Return Looks Unlikely
While some are hopeful that Pandya will be fit to play in a five-match T20I series that begins on October 29, this will depend entirely on the rehab process and his progress. Accordingly, India selectors may have to shift their focus to all-rounders, such as Shivam Dube or Nitish Kumar Reddy, if Pandya is unable to return to full health quickly enough.
Without Pandya, India won’t have the same balance, as his versatility with bat and ball cannot be substituted for, especially in white-ball cricket. His injury comes as senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli prepare to return to the team for the Australia tour, making his absence especially concerning for India’s preparations.
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Pandya has expressed that he felt ”gutted and heartbroken” after missing the Asia Cup final, and he will now focus on recovering as India awaits to find out if he can be available for the T20Is.
