Following the second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati, the two cricketing superpowers will face off in a three-match ODI series. However, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah may miss the assignment.
With next year’s T20 World Cup on the horizon, star all-rounder Hardik, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, is unlikely to play in the forthcoming ODI series, which begins on November 30. For the time being, he is expected to stick to the shortest format.
Hardik had a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai last September, and he missed the summit showdown with archrivals Pakistan.
On the other hand, talismanic speedster Bumrah is expected to be rested from the ODI series, which isn’t particularly important in the buildup to the marquee T20 competition.
“Hardik is recovering well from his quadriceps injury at the moment. He is at the Centre of Excellence doing his RTP (Return To Play) routines. As of now, returning from quadriceps injury, he needs to build up his workload and straightaway playing 50 overs will be risky. Till the T20 World Cup, the BCCI medical team and Hardik would focus on T20Is,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by India Today on conditions of anonymity.
India will defend their title at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the Men in Blue won the cherished trophy for the second time. Bumrah and Hardik delivered standout efforts throughout the main event.
Hardik contributed with both bat and ball. He bowled the final over in India’s nail-biting seven-run victory over South Africa in Bridgetown, Barbados. Meanwhile, Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament after taking 15 scalps in eight games with an average of 8.27 and an economy rate of 4.18.
South Africa’s tour of India concludes with a five-match T20I series versus India. The inaugural Twenty20 International will be contested on December 9 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
