Despite Hardik Pandya's explosive century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the star all-rounder was not selected for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, sparking debate among fans and cricket experts. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has addressed the decision, citing workload management and fitness concerns as the primary reasons behind his exclusion.
Pandya’s absence from the ODI squad is primarily attributed to his inability to bowl a full quota of 10 overs in the 50-over format. According to the BCCI, the all-rounder has not been cleared by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to bowl a full 10-over spell. While he is fit to bat and participate in T20 cricket, the demands of ODI bowling place a greater physical strain on his body. Selectors and the medical team are prioritizing caution to prevent aggravating his condition.
Pandya last played an ODI in February 2025 during the ICC Champions Trophy. Since then, he has mainly participated in T20Is. Even in domestic cricket, his bowling workload has been carefully managed. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, where he scored a remarkable 133 off 92 balls, he bowled only two overs. This further indicates his current limitations in bowling capacity.
With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, the BCCI is keen to ensure that Pandya is in peak fitness for the shortest format, where he is a key all-rounder and match-winner for India. The board has consistently emphasized the importance of protecting Pandya from overuse injuries, especially considering his history of fitness setbacks. He had recently returned to competitive cricket after recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2025, which sidelined him for nearly two months. His comeback was carefully managed during a five-match T20I series against South Africa.
Despite his recent explosive form, including a 68-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the decision to rest Pandya reflects a strategic move aimed at preserving one of India's most valuable assets for future global tournaments. In that Vijay Hazare Trophy match, Pandya went from 66 to 100 in just six balls, demonstrating his incredible power-hitting ability. He smashed five sixes and a four in a single over. His final score was 133 off 92 balls, including 11 sixes and 8 fours.
In Pandya's absence, India has opted for a balanced ODI squad with other all-round options. The squad for the New Zealand series includes Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shreyas Iyer's inclusion is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE.
The decision to rest both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah highlights the team management's focus on workload management and ensuring the availability of key players for major tournaments like the T20 World Cup.
