Hardik Pandya Shares Fitness Update Ahead Of India vs Afghanistan ODI Series

Mumbai Indians captain addresses injury concerns after missing IPL 2026 matches and confirms fitness status ahead of India duty

Hardik Pandya has responded to growing concerns surrounding his fitness after being named in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The Mumbai Indians skipper, along with Rohit Sharma, was selected “subject to fitness” following injury troubles during IPL 2026.

Pandya endured a difficult IPL campaign both personally and collectively as Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for the playoffs. His recurring fitness issues forced him to miss several matches during the tournament, while his absence from bowling duties in MI’s final league-stage fixture against Rajasthan Royals intensified speculation around his condition ahead of India’s next assignment.

Hardik Pandya Breaks Silence On Injury Concerns

The Indian all-rounder finally addressed the issue after Mumbai Indians’ heavy defeat to Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. Fans and experts had noticed Pandya repeatedly stretching during the game, while he also refrained from bowling even a single over.

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When questioned about his fitness after the match, Pandya dismissed all concerns and clarified that he deliberately chose to play solely as a batter in that contest.

“Everything is fine. I bat, I bowl, I field, I skip, so it’s okay, it’s fair for me to have a game where I just batted and enjoyed as well.”

His statement will come as a major relief for Team India management ahead of the Afghanistan ODI series, which begins in just over two weeks.

Injury Issues Ruined Hardik Pandya’s IPL 2026 Campaign

IPL 2026 turned into a frustrating season for Pandya as injuries repeatedly interrupted his rhythm. The all-rounder featured in only 10 of Mumbai Indians’ 14 league matches, forcing Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to captain the side on different occasions.

The numbers reflected his struggles throughout the campaign. Pandya managed only 206 runs from 10 innings at an average of 22.88. His bowling impact also reduced significantly, with the 32-year-old taking just four wickets in nine innings while conceding heavily.

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Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing campaign overall and eventually finished ninth on the IPL 2026 points table under Pandya’s leadership.

India Banking On Pandya Despite Tough IPL Season

Despite his poor IPL returns, Team India continue to value Pandya’s importance as a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder and senior leader in white-ball cricket. With major ICC tournaments approaching, the Afghanistan ODI series could prove crucial for the all-rounder to regain rhythm and confidence.

India’s management will now closely monitor his workload during the series, especially considering his recurring injury concerns throughout IPL 2026.