India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya set to miss Afghanistan series due to injury, IPL participation in danger too
Hardik Pandya, India’s dynamic all-rounder, finds himself in the midst of an unfortunate setback as he grapples with an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 World Cup. This injury not only sidelined him from the white-ball series against Australia and the South Africa campaign in December, but also raises doubts about his participation in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and IPL 2024 from January 11 to 17.
The ankle injury incurred by Hardik Pandya during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has proven to be a significant blow for both Team India and Mumbai Indians. Despite initial expectations of a swift recovery, recent reports from PTI suggest that Pandya might not be fit in time for the crucial T20I series against Afghanistan, even for IPL 2024. This revelation has sent shockwaves accross the cricketing community, leaving fans and selectors concerned about the team’s leadership.
The absence of Hardik Pandya has created a leadership vacuum, especially considering that Suryakumar Yadav is also expected to miss the series due to an ankle injury sustained in a T20I game against South Africa.
The upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan holds paramount importance for Team India as it serves as their final T20I assignment before the World Cup in June. The absence of key players like Pandya and Yadav adds an extra layer of complexity to the team dynamics.
In addition to Hardik Pandya, the injury to Suryakumar Yadav further complicates matters. With a suspected tear in his ankle, Yadav could be sidelined for up to six weeks, adding to the selection woes for the Indian team.
Options for Team India in Pandya’s absence
A source from the Indian Cricket Board stated, “There is no update on Hardik’s fitness status as of now, and one can say there remains a big question mark of him being available before the end of IPL.”
In the absence of Pandya and Yadav, the selectors have limited options for their captaincy role. While Rohit Sharma could make a return to lead the side against Afghanistan, the workload management of players like Ravindra Jadeja also comes into focus. Jadeja, having served as the vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav during the South Africa T20I series, emerges as a viable option.
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