‘Bhai ka kismat hi kharab hai’ – Fans react as Hardik Pandya gets ruled out of South Africa and Australia tours due to injury

Amid the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s injury is likely to trouble him a lot. According to the latest news reports, Hardik is set to be ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia and South Africa. The Australia series will start on November 24, while the South Africa tour will kick off on December 10.

It’s worth noting that earlier in the tournament, Hardik got injured while bowling against Bangladesh in a league game. The unfortunate incident unfolded in Pune when Hardik Pandya attempted to block a shot from Bangladesh’s Litton Das. Subsequently, he experienced discomfort and was swiftly taken to the National Cricket Academy for rehabilitation.

As the medical team deliberates on the need for surgery, the gravity of the injury introduces uncertainties regarding Pandya’s recovery timeline. Recent attempts to resume bowling in the nets hit a hurdle when Pandya felt pain in his right ankle upon intensifying his bowling. This led to additional scans, introducing an added layer of uncertainty to his rehabilitation process.

Who will lead India in the absence of Hardik Pandya?

Beyond its immediate impact on his participation, the injury raises concerns about Pandya’s long-term fitness and the meticulous management of his recovery. Since October 19, he has been training hard to gain match fitness but has failed to do so. His injury might rule him out for at least the remainder of the ongoing calendar year. This comes as a big setback for the Indian team, as Hardik is India’s T20I skipper, and his absence will surely hurt the team’s 2024 T20 World Cup preparations.

Team management will need to figure out his replacement too, as it might be needed in the event of surgery. Hardik has been one of the most vulnerable players on the current Indian team. His injuries have been prolonged in previous cases too. However, fans and team management will hope for him to gain match fitness as soon as possible.

Here is how fans react to Hardik Pandya’s injury: