Why are Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja not playing third IND vs AFG ODI?
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja missed last two IND vs AFG ODIs as well.
India are playing Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series, which started on June 13. The hosts have managed to seal the series with a 2-0 lead in the two matches, and will aim for a clean sweep. The third and final ODI of the series will be played on June 20 in Chennai.
Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey and Prince Yadav had received their maiden ODI call-ups ahead of this series. They also debuted in the two matches and shone with their wicket-taking skills. India have experimented with their team combinations in this series.
While the ODI regulars Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer KL Rahul continuing to be a part of this squad, some big names have missed the series. Virat Kohli sustained a hamstring injury during the IPL, and Jasprit Bumrah has been rested. Two more players who missed this series caught the eye of the fans – Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
Why is Hardik Pandya not playing IND vs AFG 3rd ODI?
Hardik Pandya has been reported to sustain a quadricep injury ahead of the series against Afghanistan. Originally, he was a part of the squad that was announced in May, but his availability was subject to his fitness.
Hardik had issues with back spasms during the IPL 2026 as well, due to which he missed a few games. He recovered well from that injury, got his fitness cleared from the BCCI Centre of Excellence, but shortly after sustained a quadricep injury.
He was eventually ruled out of the series. However, the BCCI did not announce any injury replacements for Pandya in the squad.
The team management has confirmed that they are grooming Nitish Reddy as Hardik’s backup for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. Reddy has shown incredible signs of all-round improvement and had a phenomenal season in the IPL 2026 with both the bat and ball.
Why is Ravindra Jadeja not playing IND vs AFG 3rd ODI?
Ravindra Jadeja was not a part of the squad that was announced for the ODI series against Afghanistan. He also missed the one-off Test played between the two countries shortly after the IPL 2026.
Jadeja has been reported to suffer from tennis elbow pain. He had missed a few games in the IPL pertaining to the same injury. In the Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026, he was visibly in immense pain when he retired out midway through his innings after the pain resurfaced.
Although there are no updates from the BCCI regarding Jadeja’s injury, the selectors have started looking for more spin-bowling all-rounder prospects from the Afghanistan series.
India experimented with Manav Suthar in the one-off Test, where he went on to be the Player of the Match, and then Harsh Dubey in the 1st ODI, where he shone with a 3-wicket haul in his debut match.
Why is Hardik Pandya not playing the ODI series against Afghanistan?
Hardik Pandya has sustained a quadricep injury and thus missed the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Why is Ravindra Jadeja not playing the ODI series against Afghanistan?
Ravindra Jadeja is suffering from tennis elbow pain, thus was not picked for the series against Afghanistan.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.