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"Never seen him in bad form": Hardik Pandya gets backing for 2027 WC selection

India’s 2027 ODI World Cup ambitions remain centered on Hardik Pandya, despite a fresh injury setback that has sidelined him from the recent India A series against Australia A in Puducherry. The all-rounder, who last played a competitive match in the 2026 IPL for Mumbai Indians, was ruled out of the three-match series after suffering a shin injury, prompting Mumbai’s Suryansh Shedge to step in as his replacement.

Pandya’s absence extends a prolonged fitness struggle that began in 2026, including a quadriceps strain that derailed his preparations for India’s ODI series against Afghanistan, England, and the West Indies. His last ODI appearance came in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, while his most recent T20I was against the same opponent in March 2026, underscoring his limited match exposure since then.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has strongly backed Pandya’s inclusion in the 2027 World Cup squad, emphasizing his irreplaceable role at No. 6 in the batting order.

Chopra highlighted the consistency of India’s core batting lineup—featuring Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul—while stressing Pandya’s unique skill set as the only player capable of filling that specific middle-order slot. Despite his injury woes, Chopra asserted confidence in Pandya’s form, stating he had ‘never seen him in bad form,’ and suggested Ishan Kishan as a versatile backup option for the tournament.

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