Gautam Gambhir & Co. begin search for Hardik Pandya alternatives amid fitness uncertainty

The India cricket team">India cricket team">India cricket team">India cricket team">India National Cricket Team has sort of landed in another selection dilemma, ahead of that three-match ODI series vs Afghanistan. The main worry centers on Hardik Pandya, who has once again picked up an injury at a very crucial stage, you know how it is. Because of this, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have begun preparing Nitish Kumar Reddy as a dependable all round option within India’s ODI group.

Hardik Pandya had already missed several IPL 2026 matches for the Mumbai Indians due to back spasms. After that setback, he also spent a few weeks at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, focusing on his recovery and trying to secure proper medical clearance for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, before things move along.

However, just before the opening IND vs AFG ODI on June 13, another setback kinda hit. Pandya had a low-grade quadriceps strain, moments before he was able to link up with the squad in Dharamshala. This fresh injury has put a proper, serious question mark on the star all-rounder’s participation in the ODI series.

Reports indicate that worries around Hardik’s long-term fitness are actually climbing, mainly because the ICC World Cup 2027 is coming up. India, as a matter of fact, depends on him heavily as its lead pace-bowling all-rounder, yet his repeated injury problems have left the team management thinking about other choices.

Because of all this, head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with the selectors, is said to be keeping a close watch on Nitish Kumar Reddy as a possible long-run seam-bowling all-rounder. The young player has impressed in the training sessions and it’s believed he spent pretty extended stretches doing bowling in the nets at Dharamshala.

Reddy has been working, with UK based bowling coach Stefan Jones, to enhance both his pace and physical conditioning , a bit more than before. With India expected to play between 20 and 27 ODIs before the World Cup 2027, the talented all rounder might even get steady chances after Hardik returns, so he can prepare for bigger duties.

The Indian team management, reportedly, wants to keep clear of starting a major tournament without a fully fit pace attacking all rounder who can also add valuable runs in the lower middle order.

Meanwhile, another promising pacer, Harshit Rana, is still on the radar as a kind of backup call. Even though he is recovering from injury and is waiting for fitness clearance, the Delhi youngster has already found a place in India’s ODI World Cup plans. Shivam Dube also stays in contention ,but there are lingering questions around how much he can overall influence things and what exactly his part might be in the team’s future setups.

As per the source: “Rana is an integral part of the team management’s plans. He showed he can contribute with useful runs batting at no. 8. The team management is willing to get him ready on the road. He too needs enough game time. They will gradually increase his workload.”