As Gautam Gambhir thinks about how to even the score in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, India’s next challenge will be the three ODIs against the Proteas. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are sure to steal the spotlight, there’s some significant news to share. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah will be missing from the lineup for the three one-day internationals starting on November 30. Pandya’s fitness has been a hot topic for a while now. He first felt a twinge during the Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka, where he noticed his left quad tightening midway through his spell. He couldn’t finish his overs, and just two days later, India faced Pakistan in the final without their key all-rounder. Shivam Dube stepped up admirably, even making some important contributions, but Pandya’s absence was definitely felt. It wasn’t just about losing a sixth bowler; they also lost a middle-order safety net who can handle both pace and spin, plus share the new ball duties with Bumrah. Also Read | Did KL Rahul target LSG owner? Opener reveals how captaincy can be draining in franchise cricket Where does Jasprit Bumrah stand in all this? Bumrah’s situation is a bit different. He hasn’t played an ODI since the series against Australia earlier this year, but it’s not because of an injury. His workload is being managed carefully. He’s been bowling at full throttle in Tests, looking sharp in shorter formats, and right now, he seems to be in a rare groove where nothing seems to faze him. India doesn’t want to overuse him in a bilateral series just a few months before a major ICC event. The plan is to keep him in form with red-ball cricket, use him strategically in T20Is, and avoid those exhausting 10-over days. Looking ahead, the bigger picture is the T20 World Cup in 2026. If India wants to make a serious push, they need to treat these two like precious artifacts bubbled, padded, and protected. Both are practically irreplaceable.