Hardik Pandya To Miss Sri Lanka ODIs For Personal Reasons, Reports Confirm

Hardik Pandya has reportedly asked the BCCI not to include him in the squad for the Sri Lanka ODIs due to personal reasons. The all-rounder, who is a potential candidate to replace Rohit Sharma as India's T20I captain, will be available for the T20I series starting on July 27.

The Indian Express reported that Hardik cited personal reasons for his unavailability. The ODI series of India's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka begins on August 2 in Colombo.

Recently, Hardik played a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup victory in the West Indies. He bowled the final over against South Africa, where India needed to defend 16 runs.

Pandya displayed remarkable composure by dismissing David Miller with the first ball of the final over. He also took Kagiso Rabada's wicket and conceded only eight runs, ending India's 13-year wait for an ICC World Cup title.

A roadshow was held for Hardik in his hometown Baroda on July 15. As vice-captain of India's white-ball team, he is a strong contender for the T20I captaincy. However, reports suggest he faces competition from Mumbai Indians teammate Suryakumar Yadav.

Off-Field Activities and Personal Life

Hardik was recently seen at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding ceremony. He was spotted dancing with Bollywood actress Ananya Pandey and even ordered tequila shots, enjoying his break from cricket.

The 30-year-old is reportedly experiencing marital issues with his wife Natasa Stankovic. The couple has not yet addressed divorce rumours circulating for almost two months.

Despite these personal challenges, Hardik remains focused on his cricketing career. His recent performances have solidified his position as one of India's key players in limited-overs cricket.