Hardik Pandya faces fresh injury concern at CoE, Afghanistan T20I series comeback in doubt

Hardik Pandya has run into another injury setback during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, with the 32-year-old all-rounder advised to stop bowling after experiencing discomfort in his leg. The development makes it highly unlikely that he will be fit in time for India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which gets under way on September 13 in New Delhi. India's selection panel is due to convene this week to name the squad for that series.

Pandya's absence from competitive cricket has now stretched considerably. His most recent outing for India was on March 8 in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, and his last appearance in any competitive fixture was on May 24, when he represented Mumbai Indians during the IPL. That gap of several months, combined with the latest setback, underlines how difficult his road back to international cricket has become.

The all-rounder had already encountered a significant obstacle earlier in his recovery when he was diagnosed with a low-grade quadriceps sprain ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan, a relapse that pushed his return date back further. He has since been working through a structured rehabilitation programme at the Centre of Excellence, a stint that has now lasted approximately seven to eight months.

What is the nature of Pandya's latest injury concern?

Pandya had reached a stage in his recovery where he was bowling at full intensity without any apparent difficulty, which made the fresh discomfort all the more unexpected. The BCCI medical staff have not issued a clinical diagnosis, and the precise nature of the niggle has not been disclosed publicly. What is clear is that the Centre of Excellence will not clear him for competitive duty until it is entirely satisfied with his condition.

"Hardik Pandya was operating at full intensity without any discomfort but he has been advised to pause bowling due to discomfort in the leg. He will resume soon, but the Afghanistan series is too close to reach the required fitness levels. Batting and movement-wise, there wasn't any significant issue, but the CoE needs to be completely convinced before giving an all-clear," TOI quoted a source as saying.

How does Pandya's absence affect India's plans for the Afghanistan T20I series?

India's build-up to the series in New Delhi has been complicated by the fitness status of more than one key player. Jasprit Bumrah is also touch-and-go for the Afghanistan T20Is, though he is reported to be on course for the Asian Games. Pandya's unavailability adds further uncertainty to India's pace-bowling resources at a time when the selectors are already managing multiple fitness concerns.

There is better news elsewhere in the squad. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are both progressing well and are expected to be available for the series, giving the selection panel genuine all-round cover as they look to compensate for Pandya's continued absence. Their readiness will be an important factor when the selectors sit down this week to finalise the squad. Pandya's prolonged time away from the game means he will require an uninterrupted block of training before the CoE and the selectors feel confident enough to clear him for international cricket.