BCCI officially announced India's 15-member squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. Notably absent from the list was star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. While many expected Pandya to make his one-day return following his recent T20I comeback against South Africa, the selectors ultimately decided against his inclusion for this specific assignment.
Why Hardik Pandya was left out of India’s ODI squad
In an official release, the BCCI clarified that Pandya’s absence is primarily due to ongoing fitness protocols. The board revealed that he has not yet been cleared by the Centre of Excellence (COE) to bowl a full 10-over quota in a single match.
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Furthermore, the team management is adopting a long-term approach to his recovery. By managing his current workload, the BCCI aims to ensure that Pandya remains in peak physical condition for the high-priority 2026 T20 World Cup later this year.
"Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed," the BCCI said in its release.
India squad for New Zealand
India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
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Hardik Pandya relishes form of his life
Talking about Pandya's recent form, in a stunning display of raw power, the star all-rounder turned the tide for Baroda in their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Vidarbha. With his side reeling at 71/5 and later 136/6, Pandya entered at No. 7 and unleashed a relentless counter-attack. The highlight of his innings was a monstrous 39th over where he clobbered five consecutive sixes and a four, collecting 34 runs off a single over. He eventually finished with a 93-ball 133, laced with 11 sixes and eight boundaries, marking his maiden List A century in his 119th appearance and propelling Baroda to a competitive 293/9.
This explosive performance follows a stellar run in international cricket. The 32-year-old was instrumental in India's recent 3-1 T20I series victory over South Africa, where he struck two half-centuries. His impact was so significant that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad hailed him as the "difference between the two teams,".