Kapil Dev says Hardik Pandya needs more game time to avoid injuries
Kapil Dev said Hardik Pandya's repeated injuries stem from insufficient match play rather than workload volume.
Former India captain Kapil Dev said Hardik Pandya must play more cricket to reduce his injury risk. Pandya has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026 and remains ruled out of India's white-ball tour of New Zealand.
Kapil argued that muscles stay conditioned through regular match play, and sudden increases in workload raise injury chances. He noted that his generation played 250 days a year across formats. Prasidh Krishna is also ruled out for at least three weeks, while Harshit Rana developed quadriceps pain during a match simulation.
Pandya was expected to return for India A against Australia A but his comeback has been delayed. Suryansh Shedge replaced him in the India A squad and took 4 for 40 in the first unofficial ODI against Australia A in Puducherry on Tuesday.
CricHubb Take
India's injury list is lengthening because the domestic calendar no longer provides enough meaningful cricket for fringe players to stay match-ready. Pandya's prolonged absence shows that workload management without regular game time leaves players vulnerable when they return.