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IPL 2024 Cricket

'IPL nahi chorega, chahe WC chorna pade' - Fans react as Hardik Pandya set to miss Afghanistan series, likely to be fit ahead of IPL 2024

Pandya was injured during a league stage match against Bangladesh on 19 October and did not play a single match after that.

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Mathew K
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Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

Team India's interim captain in the shortest format, Hardik Panya is reportedly set to miss the upcoming series against Afghanistan. The star all-rounder suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup and was ruled out at the halfway stage of the tournament. However, according to reports, the new Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper could be fit ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. 

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Pandya played four World Cup matches, taking five wickets and scoring 11* against Australia in his only innings. He was injured during a league stage match against Bangladesh on 19 October and did not play a single match after that. He also missed the five-match T20I series against Australia as well as the three-match T20I and ODI series during the South African tour. 

In Pandya's absence, Suryakumar Yadav led the young side in T20Is and KL Rahul in the ODI series. With Suryakumar also ruled out for the Afghanistan series due to injury, it remains to be seen who will get the nod to lead the side. Or, it will be interesting if the selectors recall Rohit Sharma, who was rested in the limited-over South African series, to lead against the Asian side. 

The three-match T20I series, scheduled to take place from January 11-17, will be India's final international assignment before the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies/USA. 

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Pandya's recovery is more important for MI as the 30-year-old has been announced as their new captain for the 2024 IPL. The fast-bowling all-rounder was traded from GT to MI ahead of the mini-auction and has now replaced Rohit, the face of the franchise, as the captain. Pandya has an excellent record in the cash-rich league, leading GT to two consecutive finals, one of which reached glory. 

Here's how fans reacted: 

 

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India Afghanistan Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya featured IPL 2024