Hardik Pandya Suffers Fresh Injury, Misses Three-Match ODI Series Against Afghanistan

Team India has suffered a significant setback ahead of its upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan, with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya being ruled out due to injury. The ODI series is scheduled to begin on June 13, with the opening match set to be played in Dharamshala. Pandya's absence comes as a major concern for the Indian side, given his crucial role as an all-rounder. According to reports, the 32-year-old sustained a strain in his thigh muscles just a few hours after successfully clearing a fitness test on Tuesday at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Pandya had been recovering from a back injury that he suffered while representing Mumbai Indians during the Indian Premier League (IPL). He had travelled to Bengaluru to obtain fitness clearance after recovering from that setback. Sources indicate that the latest injury will require at least three weeks of recovery and rehabilitation. As a result, Pandya will not be available for selection for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The fresh injury has delayed the all-rounder’s return to international cricket and comes as an unfortunate development for the Indian team ahead of an important bilateral assignment.