Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya will not be taking part in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, slated to begin this Saturday. According to various reports, the 32-year-old has suffered a strain to his quadriceps muscle.

The player was granted the all clear yesterday but is now out of reckoning for the IND vs AFG series.

Hardik, who led the Mumbai Indians to a ninth-place finish in the IPL 2026 season, was laid low by back spasms during the season. The player eventually missed a few games before making his return towards the fag end of the campaign. Virat Kohli has already been ruled out of the series after suffering a hamstring injury in the IPL finals.

The board were quick to announce Yashasvi Jaiswal as the replacement player for the veteran batting star.

Rohit Sharmawho himself had been going through hamstring issues while batting for MI against RCB, had been passed fit for the series. No replacement has been named for the 32-year-old cricketer from Baroda as of now.

One BCCI official in his chat with Times of India said, “It is a very late setback. Hardik has suffered a low-grade leg sprain.

This isn’t a long-term injury, but the medical staff has advised the player against putting pressure on his legs for the next few days. Pandya will stay back in Bengaluru and continue his recovery phase.”

When did Hardik Pandya last play ODI cricket for India?

The Indian star last played an ODI game for the national side in early 2025, which was the Champions Trophy final versus New Zealand. He bowled three overs in the game and went for 30 runs without claiming a wicket, and scored a run-a-ball 18 that saw India clinch the title with four wickets in hand.

The likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have already been rested for the entire Afghan series to manage their workload. This would mean that Nitish Kumar Reddy could be seen playing as the special all-rounder in the first ODI match on Saturday in Dharamsala.

Yet another BCCI source in his chat with PTI said: “Recovery from this injury will at least take three weeks, which means that Hardik will not be part of the ODI series.”