Old Indian ship Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns Hardik PandyaThe man’s recurring fitness issues, questioning the lack of clarity surrounding the all-rounder’s injuries while admitting uncertainty over whether he will still be part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.Hardik he recently missed the ODI series against Afghanistan due to injury and has also been ruled out of India’s upcoming 50-over series against England in July. Her absence has once again sparked discussions about her long-term fitness, a topic Kaif believes has never been properly addressed.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif acknowledged Hardik’s immense value to the Indian team and described him as an all-round irreplaceable in the current set-up. However, he admitted that the Baroda star’s injury record makes it difficult to predict how long he can continue at the highest level.“I can’t take the guarantee of him. I don’t even understand his case. He is a great match winner. No one is close to him as an all-rounder in the current lot. He also knows this. But his body is fragile. He was injured even in 2023, and then he was not the same. There are no discussions about his injury. tell me if you know. We only know from sources,” he said.Kaif also criticized the lack of communication regarding Hardik’s fitness status, arguing that supporters deserve more transparency whenever a key player is unavailable.“Fans also have a right to know exactly what happened, and we need more transparency. This has been the case with Hardik throughout his career. There are still questions about his injury as to what exactly happened and why he is missing,” he added.While talking about India’s ODI squad, Kaif also weighed in Yashasvi Jaiswalthe omission of the team for the England series. The young opener had strengthened his case with a century in the final ODI against Afghanistan but was still left out of the 15-man squad.Kaif supported the selectors’ decision to pick him Ishan Kishan instead, it indicates the wicketkeeper-batter’s versatility and ability to contribute in multiple roles. He also suggested that Kishan’s current form and the support of the coach Gautam Gambhir it worked in his favor.“Jaiswal will play. He will be an all-format player. His time will come too. Agarkar had said that they can select only 15 players, and I agree with him. We have a lot of solid players, and a few people still miss out like this. They should have picked both Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan. Kishan got the nod because he can be batted in the middle of Kishan. Also, Gambhir wants Kishan to be there. That taste is there too. I said this last time too. His form is also good, so I agree with the call. Jaiswal will have to wait a bit,” said Kaif.Despite missing this opportunity, Kaif remains confident that Jaiswal’s future lies in all three formats for India. For now, however, the youngster may have to be patient as the competition for places continues to intensify ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.
