The development comes at a critical time, with national selectors scheduled to meet this week to finalize the squad for the series, which is set to commence on September 13 in New Delhi. While Pandya had been progressing well in his rehabilitation, the recent injury has forced medical staff to advise a temporary halt to his bowling workload, making his participation in the imminent series highly unlikely.
Fitness Concerns Delay All-Rounder's Comeback
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Pandya had been training at full intensity without any notable discomfort until the recent issue emerged. While his batting and general movement have not been significantly impacted, the CoE remains cautious, prioritizing a complete recovery before clearing him for competitive action. The proximity of the Afghanistan series means he is unlikely to reach the necessary fitness benchmarks in time for selection.
This latest injury continues a frustrating period of inactivity for the 32-year-old. Pandya has not featured in a competitive match since his appearance for the Mumbai Indians on May 24. His last outing for the national side dates back to the T20 World Cup final on March 8. Since then, he has been sidelined for various white-ball assignments, including home series against Afghanistan and tours of Ireland and England.
Selection Outlook for Afghanistan Series
The timing of this injury mirrors a previous setback, where a low-grade quadriceps sprain derailed his availability for an earlier ODI series against Afghanistan just as he appeared to be reaching peak fitness. As the selection committee prepares to meet, they will be briefed on the status of several players currently undergoing rehabilitation in Bengaluru.
While Pandya’s return remains on hold, other all-rounders, including Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, are reportedly making positive progress in their recovery and are in contention for the Afghanistan fixtures. Meanwhile, the status of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah remains uncertain for the T20I series, though he is currently on track for the upcoming Asian Games.
