India, Nov. 19 -- India will be without two of their stars when they resume preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup later this month in the home series against South Africa. After the conclusion of the two-match Test series, India will take on the visitors in a three-match ODI contest. While the series will mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, nearly a month after their turn-back-the-clock show in Sydney, the management is likely to make a strategic call by resting Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.

Hardik had suffered a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup in Dubai last September. He not only missed the final against Pakistan, but also the entire white-ball tour of Australia in October.

Keeping the T20 World Cup in mind, th...