As India prepare to shift focus from the Test series against South Africa to the three-match ODI leg beginning November 30, two major absentees stand out: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Both will miss the ODI series, but for very different reasons.

Hardik Pandya ruled out due to injury recovery

Hardik Pandya has been on the comeback trail ever since he injured his left quadriceps during the Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka. He felt discomfort midway through his spell, left the field, and subsequently missed the Asia Cup final.

The injury sidelined him from the Australia white-ball series as well. Currently, the BCCI medical team has advised Hardik to focus solely on structured rehabilitation.

A BCCI source told PTI that while Hardik is “recovering well”, playing a 50-over match so soon would be “risky” given the workload spike.

He is undergoing Return-to-Play routines at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is expected to make his competitive return for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Once he clears match-fitness without discomfort, the selectors will assess his readiness for India duty — but ODIs remain off the table until after the T20 World Cup cycle.

Why Jasprit Bumrah is being rested

Unlike Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah is not injured. His absence from the ODI squad is a workload-management call.

Bumrah has been bowling at full intensity across formats and remains India’s most valuable fast bowler going into the T20 World Cup 2026. The team management does not want him to spend 10-over spells in a bilateral ODI series just months before a major ICC event.

He will continue playing Test cricket and selectively appear in T20Is, with India ensuring that his workload stays balanced.

Bigger picture: Protecting India’s core

Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are foundational to India’s T20 World Cup plans. The management sees them as irreplaceable, and the focus is on protecting them from any risk associated with heavy ODI workloads.

IND vs SA ODI schedule

  • 1st ODI – November 30 – Ranchi

  • 2nd ODI – December 3 – Raipur

  • 3rd ODI – December 6 – Visakhapatnam