‘He will play IPL 2024 and get injured again for T20 World Cup’ – Fans react as Hardik Pandya is expected to return to lead India against Afghanistan T20Is
Hardik Pandya will lead in the T20I series against Afghanistan
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Dec 24, 2023 8:13 pm
Hardik Pandya (Source – Twitter)
In what could be a game-changer for the Indian cricket team and Mumbai Indians (MI), T20 captain Hardik Pandya seems set to make a triumphant return to the field, dispelling earlier concerns about his fitness. Reports initially suggested his potential absence from both the upcoming series against Afghanistan and the IPL 2024 season, raising questions about the team’s strategy and the new MI skipper’s role.
Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh, casting doubts on his immediate cricketing future. The initial prognosis indicated a lengthy rehabilitation period, putting his participation in the upcoming events in jeopardy.
Contrary to speculations, recent reports confirm that Pandya has not only recovered from his ankle injury but has also been actively training to regain full fitness. Dismissing the rumours surrounding his potential absence not only from the Afghanistan series but also from the IPL.
“He has completely recovered from his ankle injury. He has been training every day. Hardik is fit and fine. In fact, he has been working out daily. All the talk about him going to miss the IPL is just rumour. There are still four months left for IPL 2024, so anything at this moment, is just speculation,” a source close to the Indian Cricket Board stated to TOI.
Selection Committee’s Conundrum
As the Men in Blue gear up for the T20I series against Afghanistan, Suryakumar Yadav’s injury compounds the team’s challenges. The absence of the stand-in skipper adds pressure to the selection committee, contemplating the possible return of Rohit Sharma to the T20 squad.
The potential recall of Rohit Sharma adds another layer of complexity, especially if Pandya faces last-minute setbacks. The Afghanistan series serves as a crucial buildup for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The team’s focus on building momentum and resolving leadership questions becomes paramount in their quest for another title. As Pandya’s return seems imminent, Indian cricket fans are optimistic about the availability of all the star players before the T20 World Cup.
However, the ever-changing reports regarding Hardik Pandya’s availability also have created confusion among Indian fans and after the reports doing round of Pandya’s return, Indian fans took to social media to express their views. Here are some of the tweets by fans on social media platform X:
