Hardik Pandya’s India return stalled after leg niggle at BCCI Centre of Excellence
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya saw his planned return to international cricket hit fresh uncertainty on 1 September 2026 after a leg niggle while training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the Afghanistan T20Is starting on 13th September.
Pandya had been based at the CoE in Bengaluru working to regain full fitness and had resumed both batting and bowling at full tilt, prompting close monitoring by Indian selectors because of his role in T20s and the 50-over format. Recent developments, however, have prompted further fitness assessment before any decision on his immediate availability for India’s limited-overs programme.
A Times of India report stated that Pandya suffered a late leg niggle during training at the CoE, forcing him to temporarily stop bowling. The report quoted: “Hardik Pandya was operating at full intensity without any discomfort, but he has been advised to pause bowling due to discomfort in the leg.”
The same source added that Pandya might resume bowling soon, although the injury is most likely to keep him out of the Afghanistan series, and that his batting has not been affected significantly. Officials at the CoE want assurance on his fitness before giving him the green light to return to competitive duties.
Indian selectors are expected to meet this week to finalise the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and will receive fitness updates on players currently at the CoE ahead of that decision. The Afghanistan series is scheduled to begin on 13th September.
Pandya has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2026, with his last outing for India recorded in the ICC T20 World Cup final on 8th of March, and he has missed all of India’s white-ball assignments since then. He is also not part of the Indian contingent for the Asian Games.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are reported to be progressing well at the CoE and are likely to supply selectors with variety in the all-rounder department, while Hardik Pandya’s participation in India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan starting on 13th September remains uncertain.