The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing a significant injury dilemma with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been sidelined for almost six months due to repeated fitness issues. Hardik Pandya last played competitive cricket in the IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians.

Since then, Hardik Pandya has been out of action due to his back issues and subsequent quadriceps injury that he suffered at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Since his back issues emerged in IPL 2026, Pandya has been at CoE and has missed the Afghanistan ODIs and the tours of Ireland and England.

His last game in India colors came in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad. He was cleared for the England tour, only to be ruled out at the last minute due to another injury.

These injuries, woes, and consistent fitness troubles have put the BCCI selection panel and Indian team management in trouble as they have suspicions about Pandya's fitness and his ability to complete his bowling quota in one-day cricket.  

The all-rounder is reportedly essential to India's preparations for the ODI World Cup, but the team management and selectors are having trouble with his fitness.

"Hardik Pandya's fitness remains a concern for the team management. Reports say he can't bowl more than five-six overs in ODIs. Hardik is crucial for the ODI World Cup, but his fitness continues to be a headache for the team management and selectors," the Dainik Jagran report mentioned.

Hardik Pandya’s Test career ended in 2018 with 11 Tests, in which he scored 538 runs and 17 wickets, after he suffered a serious back injury in the Asia Cup that year. Since then, Pandya has only played T20I and ODI cricket.

He has 1904 runs and 91 wickets in 94 ODIs and has scored 2288 runs and has taken 114 wickets in 138 T20Is for India. Hardik was part of India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win and the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup wins.