India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has provided key updates on two of India’s star players — Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya — ahead of the crucial white-ball tour of Australia. Bumrah will be rested for the three-match ODI series starting October 19 to manage his workload, while Pandya will miss the entire tour due to injury.
Bumrah to Miss ODI Series, Likely to Return for T20Is
Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah, who has had a busy schedule across formats, will sit out of the ODIs to ensure he remains fully fit for the T20I series starting October 29. The ace pacer featured in three Tests in England, played a vital role in India’s Asia Cup triumph with seven wickets at an average of 19.28, and is currently part of the ongoing home series against the West Indies.
Despite picking up two five-wicket hauls in England, Bumrah showed signs of fatigue and even missed the final Test at The Oval due to fitness concerns. He recently bagged three wickets in the Ahmedabad Test but may not feature in the series decider starting October 10.
“We have already rested him for the one-day games. We will manage his workload whenever possible. Since the Manchester Test, there was about a month and a half break. There is always a plan to give him a break when needed,” Agarkar explained.
He further added, “He is crucial for the team, but we also need to consider the team’s interests. Bumrah is always available when required. We will manage the workload of all seamers, including Mohammed Siraj, to minimise the risk of injury.”
Hardik’s Comeback Timeline Still Unclear
All-rounder Hardik Pandya remains sidelined after sustaining an injury just before the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. The setback kept him out of the title clash and will now force him to miss the Australia series as well.
Agarkar revealed that Pandya’s rehab at the Centre of Excellence (COE) will begin soon, after which the medical team will provide a clearer recovery timeline.
“We’ll know, in due course, how long it’s going to be. In a week’s time, he’s supposed to be at the COE. Once he starts his rehab, we’ll probably get better timelines. But for Australia, he’s definitely not available,” Agarkar confirmed.
Squad Highlights for Australia Tour
India’s squad sees several notable names return and a few new faces stepping up. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make their comeback for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final. Shubman Gill will lead the ODI side, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel will share wicketkeeping duties.
The all-round department includes Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. Among the bowlers, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav make up the attack. The T20I squad remains largely unchanged from the Asia Cup, with Nitish Kumar Reddy earning a spot.
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