Hardik Pandya ruled out of Australia series due to back injury

Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the T20I and ODI series against Australia due to lower back stiffness. While the selectors named no replacement for Pandya in the T20Is, Ravindra Jadeja was added to the ODI squad.

Hardik Pandya had missed the three-match ODI series against Australia after he was suspended for his controversial comments on TV show Koffee with Karan. BCCI lifted the suspensions on Pandya and KL Rahul shortly after and Pandya travelled to New Zealand where he did well in the ODIs.

This is a big blow to Hardik Pandya months before the World Cup. In Sepetember, Pandya was ruled out of the Asia Cup after sustaining an injury in the first match against Pakistan. Thereafter, Pandya missed the Test, ODI and T20I series against West Indies.

Pandya was also not named in the T20I squad for Australia but he joined up with the Indian team after the first two Tests. Hardik Pandya did not play in the Test series and was expected to make a comeback in the ODIs but the Koffee with Karan



row meant he was sent home along with KL Rahul.

After the suspension was lifted, Pandya flew out to New Zealand and made an immediate impact with figures of 2 for 45 in the third ODI. In the final ODI in Wellington, Hardik Pandya's all-round efforts helped India clinch the series 4-1. He first smashed a 22-ball 45 before picking up 2 for 50 to script a 35-run win for India.

Hardik Pandya did not fare too well in the T20I series against New Zealand. His absence from the series against Australia gives Vijay Shankar the chance to impress the team management further.

Vijay Shankar made his ODI debut against Australia in Melbourne and showed he was handy with the ball. In New Zealand, Vijay impressed with the bat and scored a gritty 45 in the final ODI in Wellington.

In fact, Vijay Shankar was sent up the order in the T20I series as the management wanted to see his prowess with the bat. He finally came good in the final match scoring a quickfire 43 albeit in a losing cause.