Hardik Pandya undergoes lower back surgery

The 25-year-old sustained the injury initially in September 2018, when he was stretchered off halfway through his over against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. He made a comeback in India's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign earlier this year, but was rested for the tour of West Indies that followed.

He was brought back into the side for their Twenty20 International series against South Africa last month, but complained of back problems again.

"Pandya complained of lower back pain after India’s final T20I South Africa in Bengaluru on 22 September. The BCCI medical team consulted a panel of spine specialists in England, and they recommended surgery for a long-term solution of this issue," said the BCCI in a release.

The duration of Pandya's rehabilitation process has not been specified.