India suffer major blow as Hardik Pandya ruled out of England series
By Vipul Kashyap, New Delhi, June 20
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming England series due to an injury, sources confirmed to.
The series will kick off on July 1, starting with the first of five T20S, followed by a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series concluding in late July.
Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title. Kohli is likely scheduled to undergo a fitness test on June 26 ahead of the England series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's T20I squad and is expected to unveil the ODI squad soon.
Pandya suffered a leg strain, which came after the back spasms that caused him to miss four of the Mumbai Indians' (MI) 14 games in the IPL.
During the IPL, Hardik did not inspire confidence with bat, ball and his captaincy. MI ended in the bottom half of the table, and Pandya could score just 206 runs in 10 innings at an average of 22.88 and a strike rate of 138.25 and could take just four wickets.
Pandya is also not a part of the ongoing three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Ahead of the Afghanistan series, according to sources, Pandya had earlier been declared fit by the CoE and had also submitted his fitness report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) two days before the scheduled departure.
"He was declared fit by COE and sent his fitness report to the Board two days before, but after his final session before leaving COE, he had some issues about his fitness", a source told ANI.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, Hardik's form in the IPL was really poor. 206 runs and 4 wickets in 10 innings is not what you expect from India's premier all-rounder. Maybe this break will help him reset mentally and physically. But Virat's injury is even more concerning - we need him back for the England series, he's the backbone of our batting.
The timing of these injuries is really unfortunate. Just after the IPL, when players should be in peak form, we lose two key players. But kudos to the BCCI for being transparent about the fitness tests. At least now we can plan ahead with the squad. I hope Hardik recovers fully - his explosive batting and medium pace are crucial in English conditions. 💪
Look at the positive side - this gives a chance for young all-rounders like Venkatesh Iyer or Deepak Hooda to step up. Every setback is an opportunity in disguise. Though I'm worried about our middle order against England's pace attack. Hardik's finishing abilities will be missed, especially in the death overs. Let's hope the selectors pick wisely.
As an England fan living in India, this is a double-edged sword. We want to beat a full-strength India, but Hardik's absence does weaken the team. His all-round ability is world-class. Hopefully, both Pandya and Kohli recover soon - the rivalry is better when both teams are at full strength. Wishing them a speedy recovery! 🏏
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