NEW DELHI: All-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss India’s limited overs home series against Australia, their last before this year’s World Cup, with lower back stiffness, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Thursday. A key cog in India’s scheme of things at this year’s World Cup, Pandya returned from a brief suspension – for his inappropriate remarks on a television show – to help secure the team’s 4-1 ODI series victory in New Zealand earlier this month. “The BCCI medical team decided to rest the all-rounder and let him undergo strength and conditioning work for his lower back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement. “Pandya will begin his strength work from next week.” India’s Twenty20 squad now contains 14 members, while spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will replace Pandya for the five one-dayers against the reigning World Cup champions. With wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav having established themselves as India’s frontline spinners, Pandya’s injury affords Jadeja a chance to impress before India finalise the final 15 for the World Cup in England and Wales. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2019.