The Indian National Cricket Team is gearing up to battle it out with the South African National Cricket Team in a three-match ODI series starting 30 November after the ongoing two-match Test series. But the hosts’ two big stars, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, will not be present during the series.
The Indian board’s move of resting Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah is apparently linked with providing the players a break and also their fitness towards the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. Kohli and Sharma will return to the ODI series after their phenomenal displays in Sydney.
India Team Will Keep Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah Out of the South Africa ODI Series
Pandya was one such player with a major injury during the Asia Cup 2025. It was the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who had his quadriceps injured that he is still recovering from.
The management of the Indian cricket team, keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026, has taken a decision to rest Pandya from ODIs against South Africa and concentrate on the T20 format of the series.
He had been ruled out of the final match of the Asia Cup against Pakistan due to the injury, and BCCI has come to the conclusion that it would be too dangerous for him to engage in ODI format so soon.
A Recovery Fitness Test Will Be Given To Hardik Pandya Before The T20I Comeback
Hardik, first of all, has to prove his fitness at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 for Baroda before coming back to the national squad for the next T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand.
It is said that Pandya will aim back at the ODI cricket after the IPL 2026 since the ICC World Cup 2027 is still two years away. On top of that, India will also have three ODIs with New Zealand.
A BCCI source was cited by PTI who said, “Hardik has good recovery from the injury he suffered to his quadriceps and is now getting his RTP (Return to Play) routines at the Centre of Excellence. Presently, his work is going to be gradually increased as he returns from the quadriceps injury, and playing 50 overs all of a sudden will be risky. Until the T20 World Cup, the BCCI medical team and Hardik will concentrate on T20Is.”
Jasprit Bumrah return for T20Is; rest for South Africa ODIs
However, Jasprit Bumrah will also not play in the ODI series against South Africa. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 being the main event, the management is very much inclined on controlling Bumrah’s workload ensuring his fitness for the big event.
Already the Indian pacer had missed the recent ODI series in Australia, and a PTI report suggested that he will not play in the home ODI matches against the visiting South African side as well so as to manage his workload. He will, just like Hardik Pandya, return for the five-match T20I series against South Africa.
Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill doubtful for Proteas ODIs
On the contrary, Shreyas Iyer, India’s vice-captain in ODIs, is going to be sidelined for the home ODIs against South Africa as he is currently rehabilitating the surgery he had in Sydney to remove his ruptured spleen.
Also, the Indian captain Shubman Gill has a neck injury and is not quite certain to play in the next ODI series as well. He is also a doubt for the second and final Test against South Africa, set to start on November 22 in Guwahati, where he may or may not lead the side.
