Stories
Irfan Pathan Alarms Over Hardik Pandya's Recurring Injuries: 'Getting Injured Without Playing'
- •Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed concern over Hardik Pandya's recurring injuries, stating it impacts team management's confidence in his availability.
- •Pandya is currently rehabilitating from a fresh shin injury, extending his time away from competitive cricket to four months, after previous setbacks including a back stress issue and quadriceps injury.
- •Pathan highlighted the unusual nature of Pandya getting injured without playing, and then again during rehab, which he believes will erode confidence among selectors.
- •Pathan urged India to develop more fast-bowling all-rounders to cover for Pandya's uncertain fitness, identifying Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising candidate.
- •Pace all-rounders like Pandya are crucial for ODI team balance, providing both bowling options and lower-order finishing skills, a rare combination in Indian cricket.
Key Questions Answered
Irfan Pathan expressed concern that Hardik Pandya's recurring injuries, including a fresh shin injury that ruled him out of the India A series against Australia A, would make it difficult for selectors and team management to trust his availability. Pandya has faced multiple setbacks spanning back issues, quadriceps problems, and injuries during rehabilitation since IPL 2026.
Irfan Pathan identified Nitish Kumar Reddy as a strong candidate who should be backed and given a longer run to develop into a reliable fast-bowling all-rounder. Reddy's development, pace, work ethic, and bowling contributions have been on an upward trajectory for the Indian team.
Hardik Pandya is considered a rare talent because finding a pace all-rounder capable of bowling ten overs in ODIs while providing lower-order finishing skills is exceedingly difficult in the subcontinent. His presence balances the team by allowing them to deploy aggressive spinners like Kuldeep Yadav without sacrificing batting depth.
