Hardik Pandya to miss Champions Trophy 2025? This star all-rounder likely to replace MI skipper in Pakistan

According to a report by Indian Express, express, Hardik Pandya is not a certainty in the ODI squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. He will need to prove himself in the domestic circuit, where he has to bowl 10 overs consistently. India are looking at Washington Sundar and Axar Patel as the primary all-rounders in the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 since the tournament will be held in subcontinent conditions. The report also states that the management is also looking at 21-year-old pace bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy as well.

Hardik will miss the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka which is scheduled to start from August 2. However, he will feature in the T20I where Suryakumar Yadav will lead Men in Blue in Island Nation. Hardik who was Rohit Sharma's successor in the T20 World Cup will play in the series as a player and Shubman Gill will be Suryakumay Yadav's deputy in T20Is.

The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will be the first assignment for newly appointed India's head coach Gautam Gambhir where Rohit Sharma made a comeback in the ODI series to lead India, this will be Rohit's first ODI clash after India lost the ODI World Cup final against Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.  Apart from Rohit, Virat Kohli will also feature in the ODI series. Shivam Dube has also been added to the squad as Hardik's replacement. Shryeas Iyer who lost his central contract after ODI World Cup has also made a comeback in the ODI squad.