Home / Sports / Pandya's Fitness Woes: A Player Workload Crisis?
Pandya's Fitness Woes: A Player Workload Crisis?
9 Oct
Summary
- Hardik Pandya has missed competitive cricket since IPL 2026 ended.
- Prasidh Krishna is out for three weeks; Harshit Rana has a quad injury.
- Kapil Dev suggests more consistent game time tunes the body.
Hardik Pandya's prolonged absence from competitive cricket, which began after the final week of IPL 2026, has once again highlighted critical issues concerning player workload, game time, and injuries. His expected return for India A's ODI series against Australia A did not materialize, and he is now ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand. The tour was slated to commence with a T20I series on October 22.
This situation is compounded by other fitness concerns within the Indian team. Prasidh Krishna has been sidelined for at least three weeks, likely missing the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Additionally, Harshit Rana is facing a setback, making his participation in the New Zealand tour improbable. Rana had previously been ruled out of the T20I series against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games due to injury, and recently experienced pain in his left quadriceps during a practice session.
Former India captain Kapil Dev commented on Pandya's situation, suggesting that playing more cricket helps a player's body become accustomed to the demands of the game. He noted that a lack of regular play, followed by increased activity, can elevate the chances of injury. Dev recalled how players in his era participated extensively in various domestic tournaments year-round, emphasizing the benefit of consistent exposure to the game's physical rigors.
