Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming white‑ball tour of New Zealand, ending a run of injury‑time that began at the final week of IPL 2026. The all‑rounder, who was due to return with India A in the ODI series against Australia A, is now sidelined until the tour starts on October 22.
“Play more cricket,” former India captain Kapil Dev told the Times of India. “If you play less and suddenly you play more, chances of injury increase. If your muscles are fine, your injuries are less.” Dev’s blunt advice came after a flurry of player fitness news.
India is also battling other fitness setbacks. Fast‑bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out for at least three weeks, while all‑rounder Harshit Rana suffered a quadriceps strain that keeps him off the England leg in July and the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
Kapil, who remembers a generation that played Ranji, Duleep, club and other forms of cricket across the year, said that regular game time conditions the body for the physical demands of international cricket. The absence of players like Pandya, Krishna and Rana underscores the mounting pressure on India’s batting and bowling line‑ups.
With the ODI series against New Zealand looming, India will have to reshuffle its all‑rounder options and rely on younger talent. The next challenge lies in the white‑ball series starting October 22, where the absence of veteran all‑rounders could tilt the balance.