Hardik Pandya will not take part in India’s upcoming limited overs series against Australia – their final assignment ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019 – after being ruled out due to a “lower back stiffness”.
The all-rounder, who made a successful return to international cricket in New Zealand after being temporarily suspended for his controversial comments on TV chat show Koffee With Karan, was declared unfit through a BCCI release on Thursday, 21 February.
“The BCCI Medical team decided to rest the all-rounder and let him undergo strength and conditioning work for his lower back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Mr. Pandya will begin his strength work from next week.”BCCI Statement
Pandya had injured his back during the Asia Cup match against Pakistan in September last year and missed out on the rest of the series as well as the home series against West Indies and then the first leg of the tour of Australia as well.
Since his comeback, the all-rounder has played only six matches (3 ODIs and 3 T20s in New Zealand).
Ravindra Jadeja replaces the injured 25-year-old in the squad for the one-dayers, while no replacement has been named for the T20I series that starts on Sunday. This change-up now gives Jadeja another opportunity to stake his claim in the squad for the World Cup to be played in the UK from May to July.
India will host Australia for two T20s and five ODIs, starting Saturday in Visakhapatnam. The second T20 will be played in Bengaluru on February 27.
The five ODIs will be staged in Hyderabad (March 2), Nagpur (March 5), Ranchi (March 8), Mohali (March 10) and Delhi (March 13).
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