RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sourcesIND vs AFG T20I series 2026: Hardik Pandya unlikely to feature as India all-rounder suffers fresh injury originally appeared on Cricket News .
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
India star Hardik Pandya's comeback faces another setback after a fresh niggle emerged during training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Selectors are set to meet this week, though Pandya's fitness timeline may rule him out of the Afghanistan T20Is.
Pandya hasn't featured for India since the T20 World Cup final on March 8.
Hardik Pandya injury update: India all-rounder ruled doubtful for IND vs AFG T20I series 2026
Hardik Pandya's road back to the Indian team has reportedly hit yet another speed bump, with a fresh leg issue threatening to keep him out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
Reports from TimesofIndia.com suggest Pandya had been ticking all the right boxes during his recovery process, only for a late setback to throw his availability into doubt once again.
Selectors are expected to sit down this week to finalise the squad for the T20Is beginning September 13 in New Delhi, and they'll soon receive updates on the fitness status of players currently based in Bengaluru.
A source told ToI: "Hardik 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 to reach the required fitness levels. Batting and movement-wise, there wasn't any significant issue, but the CoE needs to be completely convinced before giving an all-clear."
MORE: Mumbai Indians post triggers Hardik Pandya IPL 2027 retention speculation
(getty)
How long has Hardik Pandya been out of action?
Pandya's absence from competitive cricket has already stretched on for some time. His last outing came for Mumbai Indians in the IPL back on May 24, and his most recent appearance for India dates back even further, to the T20 World Cup final on March 8.
Since then, he's missed India's home white-ball series against Afghanistan, along with subsequent tours of Ireland and England. And this run of absences from this latest niggle now looks set to extend even further.
This isn't the first time a late injury has interrupted his comeback plans either. Pandya had previously suffered a similar setback ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan, when he picked up a low-grade quadriceps sprain despite reaching peak fitness and training well right up until that point.
MORE: Hardik Pandya trade: Which team will sign MI captain?
Why Hardik's repeated pattern should worry India's team management
Pandya's fitness struggles have now become a concerning pattern rather than an isolated setback, and that consistency is what should really worry India's selectors and medical staff. Two separate late-stage niggles derailing two different comeback attempts, both tied to lower-body strain, point to something that might need a deeper look than just short-term rehab management.
MORE: Hardik Pandya transfer: MI captain ready to join KKR ahead of IPL 2027 but on one condition - Report
There's also a broader workload conversation worth having here. Pandya's role as a bowling all-rounder places enormous physical strain on his body, and repeatedly pushing toward full match fitness only to hit a wall late in the process suggests his recovery timelines might be getting compressed rather than properly paced. Rushing him back for the sake of squad depth, especially for an inconsequential bilateral series against Afghanistan, would be a short-sighted gamble.
India's team management deserves credit for prioritising caution here rather than risking a bigger setback, but the recurring nature of these issues means a more structured, long-term fitness plan is probably overdue.
For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook , Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.