Hardik, Bumrah likely to skip South Africa ODIs to manage workloads

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to sit out of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30, to manage their workloads. With focus shifting to next year's T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin in February, the Indian team management wants Pandya to shift his attention solely to the shortest format for now. The star all-rounder is currently recuperating from a quadriceps injury.

Meanwhile, as part of the team's workload management policy for frontline pacers, ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be rested from the three-match ODI series, as it holds little significance in the build-up to the T20 marquee event in the eyes of the team's stakeholders.

Hardik suffered a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup T20 tournament in Dubai last September and also missed the final against Pakistan.

"Hardik is recovering well from his quadriceps injury at the moment. He is at the Centre of Excellence doing his RTP (Return To Play) routines. As of now, returning from quadriceps injury, he needs to build up his workload and straightaway playing 50 overs will be risky. Till the T20 World Cup, the BCCI medical team and Hardik would focus on T20Is," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

It is believed that Hardik will first need to prove his match fitness for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before joining the Indian squad for the T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand.

India will play three ODIs against New Zealand as well, but 50-over cricket is likely to take a backseat until the T20 World Cup. After the conclusion of IPL 2026, the focus for senior players will shift to the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.

Currently facing off in a two-Test series, India and South Africa will next play the ODI series before squaring off in a five-match T20I series in December.

(With PTI Inputs)