Hardik Pandya injured, Jadeja in team, Doctors advised Hardik to strengthen core

India suffered a huge blow ahead of the three T20 and five One Day International (ODI) series against Australia at home when all-rounder Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to lower back stiffness.

Hardik Pandya has been asked to strengthen his core before he can make a comeback to the team. While the move has been made keeping in mind the World Cup, his status as far as participating in the Indian Premier League will be taken in three weeks from now. Having suffered a back injury during the Asia Cup game against Pakistan, Pandya returned to the squad for the second half of the Test series against Australia.

According to a BCCI press release, the BCCI medical team decided to rest the all-rounder and let him undergo strength and conditioning work for his lower back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Pandya will begin his strength work from next week.

The T20I squad will now consist of 14 members. Ravindra Jadeja has been named replacement for Hardik Pandya for the five ODIs.