Modern-day cricket is unforgiving. Between a punishingly busy schedule and the physical toll it takes on players to test human limits, it can be an all-out war of attrition. It has become a problem for Team India as they prepare to face off against Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where the Men in Blue find themselves constantly waging a battle against an injury bug that denies them the use of their full-strength XI batting lineup in different formats.
Since the hectic aftermath of the IPL 2026 season, which had a significant impact on India's white-ball tours of Ireland, England, and a Test series against Sri Lanka, the frequency of such occurrences has placed both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Center of Excellence under a microscope.
Five names stand out who have affected India's decision-making in the recent past in terms of fitness
1. Harshit Rana
While pace bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana has already made an ill-fated comeback from a serious stress fracture during the 2020-21 season, he has faced fresh challenges this year and, as it stands, it has been a year of constant rehabilitation for him.
The right-arm quick bowler first had to spend a long period on the sidelines with a knee injury sustained during a warm-up match before he was able to participate in the IPL and domestic competitions during the early part of the year. Rana was then ruled out of the T20 World Cup and IPL 2026 after undergoing surgery to treat the injury. After rejoining Team India for the Ireland and England tour, the 28-year-old broke down after playing only five of the games due to a hamstring strain, and he suffered yet another setback while preparing to face a cricket-mad Afghanistan in an intense Test series.
2.Jasprit Bumrah
If there is one player whose workload is calculated with the precision of a Swiss watch, it is Jasprit Bumrah. The seam spearer has been constantly battling between his desire to perform in a cricket-crazy nation and the need to stay away from the game to allow his body to heal from the debilitating effect of fast bowling.
After a packed T20 World Cup and the IPL 2026, the right-arm quick bowler needed a long break, during which he sustained a knee injury while playing the second ODI against England. Bumrah was then forced to sit out the following Test series against Sri Lanka. However, after successfully completing the fitness tests, the pacer has been cleared to face Afghanistan. While the initial signs are positive, the 32-year-old's health remains a matter of concern, with the 2027 ODI World Cup and the remaining legs of the World Test Championship remaining on the line.
3. Hardik Pandya
India's premier pace bowling all-rounder has sacrificed the longest format of the game to manage his injury, but it seems as if fate has it out to get him as he continues to be haunted by the injury bug.
Hardik Pandya sits out key events like Asia Cup 2025 after sustaining multiple injuries during IPL 2026. The 28-year-old, who has been on the verge of making a comeback to limited-overs cricket, has not been able to make it happen as he continues to be sidelined with various minor injuries.
However, his inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming Afghanistan T20Is remains in doubt as Pandya battles to shake off the injury. However, the explosive all-rounder has made it to the India A squad for the List A matches against Australia A and will most likely play in the series, depending on whether he passes the fitness test at the end of the practice session.
4. Nitish Kumar Reddy
The cruel twist of fate seems to target the multi-format all-rounders as India continues to face an injury crisis in limited-overs cricket.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who bowls like a fast-medium pace bowler and bats like a left-handed finisher, has also struggled with a string of injuries. During the second half of 2025, he was forced to miss the tours of England and Australia after sustaining two injuries within a short span of time. However, with the focus on tweaking his bowling action and adding pace to his bowling, the 28-year-old rewarded the support staff's efforts by being in the IPL 2026.
Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained another injury just before the Ireland and England tour, and he has since been on the sidelines. Like Jasprit Bumrah, the pacer has passed the CoE fitness tests with flying colors and has joined the squad in preparation for the matches against Afghanistan.
Also read: India vs Afghanistan: 3 big selection dilemmas Gautam Gambhir faces in T20I series
5.Mayank Yadav
Few fast bowlers can bowl as quickly as Mayank Yadav, who possesses the rare talent of bowling fast enough to decimate batting lineups. And, as expected, the right-arm quick bowler has spent a significant amount of his career on the sidelines due to a series of injuries.
After a brilliant season in the IPL 2024, Mayank Yadav was forced to sit out the T20 and Test series due to an injury. And, unfortunately for the pacer, another injury occurred immediately after his first appearance for India. It was not until the middle of the 2025 season that the 29-year-old was able to play enough IPL matches to participate in the Asia Cup. Even then, he had to endure a lengthy surgical procedure after making only a few appearances.
The pace bowler was back in the game in 2026 after a year and a half of rehab. And so, in the warm-up matches for the T20 World Cup and the Tests against Zimbabwe, he tested his fitness, readiness, and performance in the high-intensity encounters.