MUMBAI: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India’s three-match ODI series in July due to a quadriceps injury, while superstar batsman Virat Kohli is likely to be selected for the series under a ‘subject to fitness’ clause and will undergo a fitness test at BCCICenter of Excellence in Bengaluru on June 22, TOI learnt.The squad for the ODI series in England, which will be held from July 14 to 19, will be selected soon. The three ODIs are scheduled to be played on July 14 in Birmingham, July 16 in Cardiff and July 19 at Lord’s. “The team will be selected in 3-4 days,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told this paper a few days ago. “Hardik has not been able to achieve the required amount of volume and bowling fitness required for the ODI format and will take more time to regain full ODI fitness,” a BCCI source told TOI on Saturday. “Kohli is progressing well after suffering a right hamstring injury in IPL-2026 while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He was assessed by the CoE team in London and given a program to continue in the initial phase of rehabilitation. He will report to the CoE on June 22 for further reassessment and approval,” the source revealed.Hardik has missed the ongoing home ODI series against Afghanistan due to a quadriceps injury. The 32-year-old all-rounder has been training at the CoE since June 2 and is now rehabilitating there after a quadriceps injury. Hardik is a key part of the Indian team’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. To allow him to stay fit and fresh for the ODIs, the selectors left him out of the T20I squad, but the Mumbai Indians captain will now have to wait a while before returning to the format for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai on March 8. The 37-year-old Kohli had to miss the ongoing ODI series at home against Afghanistan due to a knee injury and was replaced by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. The superstar batsman is consulting remotely with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwalla, who is based at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and is the consultant orthopedic surgeon for the BCCI. Kohli suffered a hamstring injury during an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in the IPL final that helped RCB chase down 156 against Gujarat Titans and lift them to their second straight IPL title.
