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Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s participation in IPL 2024 and Afghanistan tour in jeopardy due to injury – Reports
Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is currently having a great time on the field. Since his comeback with the Mumbai Indians, things have gone pretty well for him. However, a recent news report opens up about his ongoing injury and its prolonged recovery process.
Pandya got injured during the 2023 World Cup and had to miss more games afterwards. He couldn’t play in the white-ball series against Australia or the December matches in South Africa. People hoped he’d be back for the T20I series against Afghanistan in January, but recent news suggests he might need more time to recover.
The T20I series against Afghanistan is crucial for India, happening from January 11 to 17. It’s their last T20I series before the World Cup in June. Another player, Suryakumar Yadav, hurt his ankle too, and he might need six weeks to get better.
Now, there’s a report from PTI saying that Hardik Pandya might not be ready for the Afghanistan series and might even miss the IPL in 2024. A source from the Indian Cricket Board said, “There is no update on Hardik’s fitness status as of now, and one can say there remains a big question mark over his availability before the end of the IPL.”
Will Rohit Sharma be back as skipper for the Mumbai Indians?
If Hardik can’t play, it’s a big challenge for Team India and the Mumbai Indians. The selectors might bring back Rohit Sharma to lead against Afghanistan. But if Rohit doesn’t come back, Ravindra Jadeja could be a good option. He was the vice-captain in the South Africa T20I series.
However, Jadeja is also playing all five Tests against England, so they have to manage his workload carefully. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who could be another leader, is also injured and out for the series.
In the IPL, this news is tough for the Mumbai Indians. They just announced Hardik Pandya as their captain for the 2024 season, ending Rohit Sharma’s 10-year leadership. If Hardik can’t play, it’ll affect the Mumbai Indians’ plans, and people are wondering if Rohit Sharma will have to return as the captain.