Hardik Pandya is facing a potentially extended period on the sidelines after sustaining a left quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025. The injury, which occurred during India's Super 4s match against Sri Lanka in Dubai, forced him to miss the Asia Cup final against Pakistan and now threatens his participation in the upcoming tour of Australia.
Reports indicate that Pandya has been advised to rest for a minimum of four weeks, casting serious doubt over his availability for the series against Australia, which includes three ODIs and five T20Is, commencing on October 19 in Perth. Even in the best-case scenario, where he recovers faster than expected, it is likely that he would still miss the ODI series and potentially only be available for the later stages of the T20I series.
Pandya's absence is a significant blow to the Indian team, as he plays a crucial role as an all-rounder, contributing with both bat and ball. During the Asia Cup 2025, he took four wickets and scored 48 runs, with a highest score of 38 against Bangladesh. He also provides valuable flexibility to the team's composition, bowling overs in the powerplay and at the death. In the match against Sri Lanka where he sustained the injury, he had to leave the field after bowling just one over.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was on commentary duty during the Asia Cup final, confirmed that Pandya had suffered a quadriceps injury. According to reports, the BCCI medical team is expected to provide an official update soon to determine the full extent of the injury and the expected recovery timeline.
Pandya himself expressed his disappointment at missing the Asia Cup final. "I was very gutted to miss the most important game, but the way the boys played was outstanding. They showed a lot of character," he said in a video posted by the BCCI. He added that these high-pressure games would serve the team well in the long run, helping them adapt to different situations and conditions in T20 cricket. Rinku Singh replaced Pandya in the final against Pakistan.
If Pandya misses the ODI series against Australia, he will also miss the opportunity to play alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are expected to return to white-ball action after announcing their retirements from Test cricket earlier in the year.
