Hardik Pandya ruled out of India's ODI series against Afghanistan

All‑rounder Hardik Pandya has been excluded from India's upcoming three‑match ODI series versus Afghanistan after sustaining a fresh quadriceps strain during a fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The injury, reported on June 12, comes just days before the series begins on June 13 in Dharamshala, with subsequent games in Lucknow and Chennai.

Pandya, who had recently recovered from a back spasm incurred during the IPL, was expected to be cleared for the series but the new strain requires at least a three‑week rehabilitation period. His absence removes a key seam‑bowling all‑rounder from the squad, prompting the selectors to consider replacements such as Shivam Dube or Nitish Kumar Reddy ahead of the matches and the lead‑up to the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.