India’s premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, suffered a left quadriceps injury during the T20 Asia Cup 2025 and was out of the final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The veteran also couldn’t feature in the three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series against Australia down under. However, he is in line to make his return in December.

Returning from the Australia trip, India will face South Africa in the two-match Test series at home, starting from November 14, after which, both sides will lock horns for the three-match ODI series starting on November 30 in Ranchi before shifting the focus to five T20Is at the beginning of December in Cuttack. This could open the door for Pandya’s return to competitive cricket.

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“After a holiday break, Hardik reported to the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Nov 21. He will be at the CoE for a month. He has started his gym sessions and should be back in action during the white-ball series against South Africa at some point.” The BCCI source, as quoted by the Times of India (TOI).

Hardik Pandya anticipated to return in home white-ball series against South Africa

Pandya’s return for the national side will be vital, keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. His presence will be massive to balance the side. If the veteran stays in the eleven, then the management can go with their two premier pacers- Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, besides keeping their spin trio of Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Apart from Pandya, Shreyas Iyer is likely to be out of action for two months after suffering a ruptured spleen and rib cage injury during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It remains to be seen if he will be able to return to competitive cricket for the 50-over series against New Zealand, beginning on January 11.

“I am currently in the recovery process and getting better each passing day. I’m deeply grateful for all the kind wishes and support I’ve received — it truly means a lot. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts,” Iyer posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Virat Kohli finished the business in style. With a surprising no-look shot, the batting maestro concluded the 3rd match of the 3-match ODI series against Australia (AUS vs IND 3rd ODI). On Saturday (October 25), India was up against Australia for the last match of the ODI series and dominated the game from beginning to end.

Cricket fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground thoroughly enjoyed the free-flowing batting from both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit remained not out for 121 runs, Kohli remained on the crease for an unbeaten 74, and India won the match by 9 wickets in 38.3 overs, chasing a target of 237. To finish the match, Kohli introduced a no-look shot of his own version against Australia pacer Nathan Ellis.

It was short of the length delivery from the Aussie pacer, on the line of the middle stump. Virat, with a light touch, just guided the ball towards the third man area for a boundary, a winning hit from the 'chase master.' The batter, who is mostly known for his elegant drive and wrist work, surprised everyone with the no-look shot. 

Read More: Twin hat-tricks and non-stop wickets stun in 1st day of Assam vs Services Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match

Cricket fans at SCG witnessed Virat Kohli's no-look shot

 

 

 

 

 

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Cricket fans absolutely love to see a no-look shot over the keeper's head race to the boundary line. A year before, when Hardik Pandya played a no-look shot, it went viral on social media. The match was the first T20I in the series between India and Bangladesh, held in Gwalior on October 6, 2024. India chased a target of 128 and won comfortably with 49 balls remaining.

Pandya played a match-winning 39* off 16 balls in that match. During the innings, the all-rounder played the shot against Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed. Pandya even saw the ball after he ramped it over the keeper's head. 

Amid the India vs Australia white-ball series, Hardik Pandya's injury update has arrived. According to a recently published media report, the star allrounder can take few more weeks to get back on the track. Pandya and the management wants to go back into matches after gaining top notch fitness. As of now, the injury looks not so serious. After rehabilitation, he will be fit enough for top flight cricket matches again, reports suggested. 

According to latest informations, Pandya, who turned 32, may have to spend 4 weeks at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. He checked into the Centre of Excellence last week but took a few days’ break for Diwali. After the break, he resumed his training at CoE. Another good thing is that the pace bowling allrounder will not need surgery for the quadriceps injury. 

During the Asia Cup 2025 match, when India faced Sri Lanka for a crucial match, Pandya received the injury, after which he ruled out of the tournament and from the ongoing India vs Australia white-ball series as well. In Australia, where quality pace bowlers often make positive impacts, India is forced to play without Pandya because of the injury. 

Read More: WATCH: Five-wicket haul for debutant Asif Afridi during PAK vs SA 2nd Test

It is projected that the premium allrounder will be fit for the India vs South Africa series. If things go according to the plans, then ha can feature during the white ball matches of the series. South Africa is scheduled to travel in India for a all format series including 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is. 

India vs South Africa Full Fixtures:

1st Test - November 14 to November 18 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata

2nd Test - November 22 to November 26 in Guwahati

1st ODI - November 30 in Ranchi

2nd ODI - December 3 in Raipur

3rd ODI - December 6 in Vizag

1st T20I - December 9 in Cuttack

2nd T20I - December 11 - Mullanpur

3rd T20I - December 14 - Dharamsala

4th T20I - December 17 - Lucknow

5th T20I - December 19 - Ahmedabad

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya and model Mahieka Sharma have officially confirmed their relationship on Instagram, more than two years after his split from Natasa Stankovic. Fans and media have been quick to notice the update, sparking excitement online.

The couple recently attended a Diwali celebration together, turning heads with their coordinated red traditional attire. Their appearance at the festive event has become a talking point on social media, with admirers praising their style and chemistry.

Hardik and Mahieka’s public appearance comes after a period of speculation about their relationship. The duo seems to be enjoying their time together, blending their personal happiness with festive celebrations, while social media continues to celebrate their growing bond.

See Also: Real reason behind Pakistan removing Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain

Hardik Pandya Attends Diwali Party With His Girlfriend:

The couple made a stylish appearance at a star-studded Diwali party on Monday. Mahieka impressed in a red bandhani salwar suit paired with black leggings and white sandals, while Hardik matched her with a red kurta, black trousers, loafers, dark sunglasses, and gold accessories.

Hardik and his girl proving that love looks best in candid frames. 📸#HardikPandya #MissMalini pic.twitter.com/jnGEDaj0o2

— MissMalini (@MissMalini) October 21, 2025

Their outing instantly captured fans’ and paparazzi’s attention. Social media quickly buzzed with admiration, with many dubbing them the “new power couple” of cricket and Bollywood. Photos and videos from the event circulated widely across platforms, highlighting their chemistry and festive spirit, and cementing their status as one of the most talked-about duos in the public eye.

Recently, Hardik and Mahieka celebrated his birthday with a beach getaway, with Mahieka sharing glimpses on her Instagram Stories. Their relationship made headlines earlier this month after videos of them at Mumbai airport emerged, followed by Hardik posting a serene seaside moment together.

Mahieka Sharma, seven years younger than Hardik Pandya, is a prominent model who has worked with leading brands like Tanishq, Vivo, and Uniqlo. She has featured on the covers of ELLE and Grazia and was honoured as Model of the Year at the Indian Fashion Awards.

With several public appearances and affectionate social media posts, the couple has ended months of speculation about their relationship. Hardik and Mahieka have firmly established themselves as one of the most talked-about pairs in the public eye, capturing attention across cricket and fashion circles alike.

The premier seam bowling all-rounder of the Indian side, Hardik Pandya, has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series against Australia down under. He also didn’t feature in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium against Pakistan and is expected to be back for the white-ball series against South Africa at home.

Hardik will check in at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru on October 15 for an assessment, which will decide his future. The initial timeline for the recovery process of the Indian player was around four to six weeks, and we will get more clarity after he undergoes a thorough assessment in Bengaluru. The positive news for the player is that there is no requirement for any surgery.

See Also: Know India's updated position in WTC 2025-27 points table after a 2-0 series victory vs West Indies

In six fixtures of the Asia Cup 2025, Pandya picked four wickets and contributed a useful knock of 38 runs against Bangladesh in Dubai. His injury meant the selection committee drafted the young all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, into the squad, which will be interesting to see how he fares down under.

Hardik Pandya to check in at BCCI centre of Excellence on October 15

Hardik’s performance in any ICC event is crucial. He brings the balance to the playing eleven as he can bat in the middle order during the death overs and provide at least three overs with the ball. That always helps the management to either keep an extra batter or bowler in the side. This was the exact situation during the Blue Brigade’s title-winning T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The 32-year-old has clubbed 1904 runs in 68 innings at an average of 32.82 and a strike rate of 110.89 with 11 half-centuries. In the shortest format, the right-handed batter has cracked 1860 runs at a strike rate of 141.01 with five half-centuries.

Hardik, who was in extremely good form for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, can get the Protea and New Zealand series at home for great preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to take place in February and March.

There is always speculation on Hardik Pandya and his franchise ahead of any season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In his career, the all-rounder has featured in two franchises, the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. If his social media posts are to be believed, then the inclusion of a new franchise can’t be eliminated. The all-rounder is always an important aspect on any side. 

Hardik Pandya has overall smashed 2749 runs in 140 innings at an average of 28.34 and a strike rate of 146.92 with the help of 10 half-centuries at the best score of 91 runs. With the ball, the right-arm pacer collected 78 wickets in 107 innings at an average of 31.94 and a strike rate of 20.8. In the last IPL season, he cracked 224 runs at a strike rate of 163.50 and picked up 14 wickets at 24.42.

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Hardik has posted his picture, which suggests that he could feature in a new franchise for the upcoming IPL. He appeared to be coming out of a yellow car while he had put a yellow love sign. The fans reckoned that the veteran could join the Chennai Super Kings for the IPL 2026.

Hardik Pandya to join Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026? Cryptic post sparks speculation

The Super Kings didn’t enjoy a great last season when they finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in their history. MS Dhoni, the five-time IPL-winning captain, led the franchise after the first couple of weeks when their appointed leader, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was ruled out of the competition due to injury.

Hardik Pandya posting Yellow Stories just before IPL retentions. 😭 pic.twitter.com/KWrZNVMCqC

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) October 10, 2025

If Hardik comes into the Super Kings, then it will bring a different balance for the franchise, besides opening up another option for the captaincy. The news has got life, especially due to the close relationship of the veteran with Dhoni on and off the field.

As of now, Hardik is injured and missed the final of the Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan in Dubai. The severe injury has also kept him out of the three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series against Australia down under, starting next week. If he recovers well in time, then he could return for the home South Africa series.

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was recently seen spending time with model Mahieka Sharma ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia. Their meeting quickly caught fans’ attention on social media, sparking curiosity about the nature of their bond.

The 31-year-old cricketer appeared relaxed and cheerful during the outing, enjoying a short break before returning to national duties. Pandya, known for his stylish persona off the field, has often made headlines for his appearances beyond cricket.

India are set to face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting October 19. The series marks Pandya’s return to international action as the Men in Blue look to build momentum ahead of a packed cricketing calendar.

See Also: [WATCH] Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates 7th Test century during IND vs WI Delhi Test

Hardik Pandya in Spotlight Alongside his Rumored Girlfriend:

Hardik Pandya and model Mahieka Sharma were spotted together at the Mumbai airport on Friday, October 10. The two arrived in the same car and were seen walking inside the terminal, with Hardik allowing Mahieka to lead the way.

Both opted for matching black outfits — Hardik in a black jacket, sunglasses, pants, and white sneakers, while Mahieka donned a similar look with a black jacket, pants, and shades. The cricketer kept a low profile, avoiding interaction with the paparazzi as the pair swiftly made their way inside the airport.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mahieka Sharma is a well-known model who has graced the runway for top designers like Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, and Tarun Tahiliani. Before pursuing a career in modelling and acting, she completed her degree in Economics and Finance.

Hardik Pandya recently played a key role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 victory. The all-rounder took four wickets across six matches and contributed a vital 38-run innings in one of the games, showcasing his value to the team in pressure situations.

Hardik Pandya Ruled Out of Australia Series With Injury:

India faced a major setback when Hardik Pandya suffered a left quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025, forcing him to miss the final against Pakistan. Due to the injury, the all-rounder has been excluded from both the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of Australia later this month.

After the three ODIs, India are scheduled to play five T20Is against Australia. However, Hardik Pandya will remain unavailable as he continues to recover from his injury. The 31-year-old all-rounder has been advised a four-week rest period before resuming training.

Throughout his international career, Hardik has featured in 94 ODIs and 120 T20Is. In the 50-over format, he has amassed 1904 runs and taken 91 wickets, while in T20Is, he has scored 1860 runs and claimed 98 wickets, showcasing his immense value as one of India’s leading all-rounders across formats.

Missing their premier fast-bowling all-rounder for a crucial series in Australia could disrupt India’s team balance. Hardik Pandya’s presence usually provides flexibility, allowing the side to field an additional batter and strengthen their batting depth, which has often been a key advantage for India in limited-overs formats.

The concerns proved true. Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the Australia tour because of the injury he sustained during the Asia Cup 2025. BCCI, on Saturday, announced the squad for the limited-over series against Australia without the star all-rounder. 

India will face Australia for 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is starting from October 19. The ODI series can witness the returns of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Men in Blue brigade. But they will have to play without multiple star players, including Hardik Pandya. Pandya suffered a right quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025 match against Sri Lanka. After the match, team India bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed concerns about his injury. 

Who can replace Hardik Pandya during the ODI and T20I series against Australia?

Team India already has multiple options to replace Hardik Pandya in the playing XI for both of the formats. For T20Is, the selectors named Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar as the all-rounders of the squad. Dube can be the automatic choice to replace the void, as he did well in the Asia Cup 2025. 

Read More: Updated WTC points table after IND vs WI first Test

For the ODI series, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked up all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. 

India squads vs Australia 

India’s squad for the three-match ODI series:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk.), Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh. 

India's squad for the three-match T20I series:

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk.), Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar. 

Mumbai Indians (MI) is all set to take a massive step ahead of the IPL 2026. There are high chances to see the former Indian Premier League champions with a new captain from the upcoming season. Which means the Hardik Pandya era can soon come to an end.

Hardik's debut season as the MI captain was during IPL 2024, which was a disappointing campaign for the IPL team. For the next season, in IPL 2025, the team management decided to stick with Captain Pandya. The Mumbai Indians had to experience a hard time during the initial stage of the season. After sustaining multiple setbacks, the team bounced back and went to play the playoffs, though they were not good enough to qualify for the final match.

For a team with multiple IPL trophies in the cabinet, failures in back-to-back seasons were not something the management was expecting. Ahead of IPL 2026, it is expected to see some reinforcement in their squad. According to the latest updates, Mumbai Indians can remove Hardik Pandya from the leadership role.

Read More: IND vs WI, 1st Test, Day 2: Match highlights and key performances

Mumbai Indians can remove Hardik Pandya from captaincy 

As per claims, MI management can appoint Suryakumar Yadav as their new captain from the upcoming season. Yadav was one of the few batters who scored runs continuously for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. In terms of stats, it was his best IPL season in terms of individual performances. In 16 matches and 16 innings, the right-handed batter scored 717 runs at an amazing batting average of 65.18.

When MI team management removed Rohit Sharma from the leadership duty, it was speculated that Yadav could take charge. The speculations caught pace after IPL 2024 as well. Suryakumar as a leader is already a proven talent. Recently, he guided Team India to become the Asia Cup 2025 champion as the undisputed team. 

A big blow for Team India. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is ruled out of the India vs Pakistan (IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025) Asia Cup 2025 final match. The huge update came ahead of the toss at the Dubai International Stadium. Captain Surya Kumar Yadav won the toss and decided to bowl first against the archrival Pakistan. Rinku Singh came into the playing XI to replace injured Pandya. 

Pandya was uncertain about the final match. During India's last Super Four match, which was against Sri Lanka, multiple India cricketers suffered cramps including Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya. After the match, team India bowling coach Morne Morkel informed that Pandya would be assessed, but Sharma looked fine. During the toss, today, the Men in Blue captain informed that Hardik missed out due to a niggle he picked during the previous match. 

Morkel said before, "Hardik, I know we'll assess sort of tonight and tomorrow morning, and we'll make a call on that. Abhishek is fine." 

"We will bowl first. It looks a good wicket. The wicket gets better under lights. We have been batting well first but we would like to chase today. The groundsmen have done a terrific job with the wickets here. The brand of cricket we have been playing for the last 5-6 games is pretty good. Unfortunately Hardik misses out", Yadav said after winning the toss. 

Read More: Why is Hardik Pandya not playing today in IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 Final?

First XIs:

India—Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh (in for Hardik Pandya), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube (in for Arshdeep Singh), Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah (in for Harshit Rana).

Pakistan- Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (WK), Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.