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Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)
The Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya had suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup. This injury led to his exclusion from subsequent white-ball series against Australia and South Africa in December. It was anticipated that he might recover for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in January.
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But as per a recent report which hints at the possibility of Pandya's continued absence has caused concerns over India's captaincy selection for the home contest. India is set to encounter Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series from January 11 to 17. This series also serves as their last T20I challenge ahead of the World Cup in June. Earlier reports indicated Suryakumar Yadav's absence from the series due to an ankle injury sustained while fielding against South Africa in Johannesburg, with a suspected tear that may require six weeks for recovery.
The report also suggested that the likelihood of Hardik recovering from his ankle injury in the near future is slim. Consequently, he is expected to miss not only the Afghanistan series but also the entire IPL 2023 season.
"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," a PTI reported as per Hindustan Times.
Potential option for India in the absence of Hardik Pandya
The potential absence of Hardik Pandya poses a significant challenge for both Team India and Mumbai Indians. If Rohit Sharma opts for an extended break, the selectors may consider him to lead against Afghanistan. Alternatively, Ravindra Jadeja who was the vice-captain during the South Africa T20I series can be a choice but his workload management needs careful consideration, especially with five Tests against England ahead.
Another option is Ruturaj Gaikwad who has suffered a finger injury and will be unavailable for the series, complicating the captaincy decision. Mumbai Indians had recently designated Hardik as their captain for the IPL 2024 season, concluding Rohit's decade-long captaincy, where he guided the team to five titles. Hardik, traded back to Mumbai from Gujarat Titans in an all-cash deal last month, assumed the leadership role for the upcoming season.