Hardik Pandya Dropped from IND vs NZ ODI Squad? BCCI Explains Selection Decision

India's cricket sensation, Hardik Pandya, has been left out of the 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, which was announced on Saturday. The last time we saw Hardik in a 50-over international match was back in February 2025 during the Champions Trophy, and since then, he’s only played T20Is. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared the reasoning behind this decision. 

In a press release, the BCCI mentioned that Hardik hasn’t been cleared by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to bowl a full 10 overs. This decision was made with an eye on the T20 World Cup 2026, as part of managing his workload. The last time he played was in round 5 of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, where he impressively scored 133 runs off just 92 balls but only bowled two overs in that List A match. 

Pandya made his return to the field during the five-match T20I series against South Africa at the end of 2025. Before that, he had to sit out for two months due to a quadriceps injury he picked up during the Asia Cup 2025. Given that he’s India’s key all-rounder in the shorter format, it’s completely understandable that the team is being cautious with his workload. 

“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 statement read.

Hardik Pandya not being part of the India squad for the ODI series against New Zealand is more about being cautious than anything else. The BCCI is clearly taking a careful approach to manage his fitness and long-term workload, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon. 

Since he hasn't been cleared to bowl a full set of overs yet, bringing him back into 50-over cricket too soon could heighten the risk of injury. His recent performances indicate that his batting is still in great shape, and the limited bowling spells suggest a thoughtful return strategy. By focusing on his recovery and fitness, the team management is making sure Hardik stays in top form for the big tournaments ahead, where his all-round skills are vital for India's success.

India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series

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