Can India rely on Hardik Pandya for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
Hardik Pandya hasn't played since March 2026. With the ODI World Cup in South Africa less than a year away, his fitness timeline is still a mystery.
Hardik Pandya hasn't taken the field for India since the T20 World Cup final in March 2026. That's nearly a year. The ODI World Cup in South Africa is coming up in less than twelve months, and nobody knows if he'll be ready.
India's selectors haven't named a direct replacement yet. Naman Dhir's shown flashes in limited chances, but the team keeps hedging its bets on Pandya's return. The gap he's left — both as a batter and a bowler — is real. It affects balance across the whole XI.
His recovery will make or break India's squad for the tournament. If the injury drags on much longer, the selectors will have to stop waiting and lock in alternatives now. Right now, though, they're still planning around him — and that's a gamble with less than a year to go.
CricHubb Take
The real problem isn't whether Pandya comes back; it's that India's refusing to build a Plan B. If he's not fit by tournament time, they'll be scrambling for an all-rounder in a squad that was meant for someone else.