Hardik Pandya’s return to international cricket has hit another delay. A late leg niggle has derailed his recovery at the BCCI Center of Excellence. He was ticking the right boxes in his rehabilitation, but the new issue has put him on the back foot for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
Sources said 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 for him to reach the required fitness levels. His batting and movement are fine, but the CoE needs to be fully convinced before clearing him.
Hardik Pandya Injury: When Did He Play Last
The 32-year-old has not played a competitive fixture since May 24, when he turned out for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. His last appearance for India was in the T20 World Cup final on March 8. He has missed the white-ball assignments against Afghanistan and the tours of Ireland and England since then.
He had previously suffered a late relapse before the ODI series against Afghanistan with a quadriceps sprain. Even then, he had been at peak fitness before the injury struck. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are progressing well for the Afghanistan series. Jasprit Bumrah remains touch-and-go for those fixtures but is on track for the Asian Games.
Hardik Pandya New Look: India Star Turns Heads With Bald Style Ahead of Comeback
Hardik Pandya turned heads with a fresh new look while attending the Duleep Trophy match at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He appeared with a sharp, bald look that quickly caught the attention of fans. Pictures of the cricketer soon began circulating on social media. Fans drew comparisons to a gangster-style appearance.
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One fan summed up the reaction by saying Hardik Pandya looked like a gangster. His bold style choices have always attracted attention, whether during cricket tours or public appearances. This time, his simple bald look became the talking point.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Series: Delhi to Host All Three Matches in September
Afghanistan will host India for a three-match T20I series in Delhi from September 13 to 17. All three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Program. The series is aimed at growing the cricketing relationship between the two nations.
Afghanistan have been hosting their home fixtures in India in recent years. The two sides have regularly faced each other across formats. Afghanistan recently toured India for a three-match ODI series in June 2026, which India won 3-0.
Afghanistan Cricket Board Chair Mirwais Ashraf highlighted the importance of the series. He said it holds great significance for Afghanistan cricket and represents another step in their relationship with the BCCI. He added that hosting India for a bilateral series in India is a significant milestone for them.
The schedule is as follows. The first T20I is on September 13. The second is on September 15. The third is on September 17. All matches will be at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
India T20I Squad: Nitish Reddy and Krunal Pandya in Focus for Afghanistan Series
The Indian team is preparing for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan starting September 13 in Delhi. The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is likely to meet this week to pick the squad. Several players are on the verge of returning from injury.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been struggling with fitness issues for a long time. He is close to making a full comeback. Nitish Reddy is training at full capacity at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Hardik Pandya has shifted his stay to Bengaluru to focus on his recovery. Washington Sundar is also close to getting final approval to return. He has been in Chennai and will now appear at the CoE to prove his match fitness.
There remains confusion over Jasprit Bumrah’s return. He is being monitored for his workload after being ruled out of the Sri Lanka Tests. He is also undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE. The selectors are keeping a close watch on him.
In addition, there has been talk about the left-arm spinner option. Axar Patel’s performances in Ireland and England were very mediocre. He took only two wickets in four T20Is against England and two against Ireland. As a result, the name of experienced all-rounder Krunal Pandya has come into the spotlight. He last played for India in 2021 but had a brilliant IPL 2026 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, taking 14 wickets. The return of these players is expected to strengthen the balance of the team.
FAQs
Q. Why is Hardik Pandya missing the Afghanistan series?
A. A late leg niggle has delayed his return.
Q. When did Hardik last play competitive cricket?
A. Hardik last played for Mumbai Indians on May 24.
Q. When did Hardik last play for India?
A. His last India appearance came in the T20 World Cup final.
Q. Where will India play Afghanistan in September?
A. All three T20Is will be played at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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