With T20 World Cup Near, Pandya and Bumrah Likely to Sit Out SA ODIs: Report

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, still recovering from a quadriceps injury, is set to miss India’s upcoming ODI series against South Africa starting November 30, with his focus firmly on the T20 World Cup next year.

Paceman Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be rested from the three-match ODI series as part of workload management, given the limited significance of 50-over cricket ahead of the T20 showpiece. Hardik sustained the quadriceps injury during last year’s Asia Cup T20 in Dubai, which also ruled him out of the final against Pakistan.

“Hardik is recovering well at the Centre of Excellence and completing his Return-To-Play routines. Playing 50-over cricket immediately after such an injury would be risky. Until the T20 World Cup, the focus will remain on T20Is,” a BCCI source told PTI.

The Mumbai Indians skipper is expected to test his match fitness for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before returning for the T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand. While India also play three ODIs against New Zealand, senior players are likely to prioritize T20s until after the next IPL, with attention then shifting toward the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.