Hardik Likely To miss T20I Series Against Afghanistan, Doubtful About IPL Season: Report
The new captain of Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya, is likely to miss the T20I series against Afghanistan and IPL 2024 because of an ankle injury, reported NDTV, citing a source, on Saturday.
Since injuring his ankle in the World Cup match against Bangladesh, Hardik missed the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour and the T20I series against Australia. As a battling all-rounder, he led India to a 4-1 series win over Australia, while the T20I series ended in a draw. However, while the team was expecting his recovery for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in January, a report from NDTV, citing sources from PTI says that he is unlikely to play in the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Hardik had been traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the IPL player auction. According to sources, Hardik was at first included in the retention list of Gujarat Titans, however, he was traded to Mumbai Indians as part of an all-cash deal ahead of the auction. According to the reports, Hardik will miss the T20I series against Afghanistan. His participation in the upcoming season of IPL as the captain of Mumbai Indians thus becomes uncertain.
Immediately after the takeover of Hardik from GT, MI had announced that Hardik would lead the Mumbai Indians franchise in the approaching season of IPL, replacing long-serving captain Rohit Sharma.
India will confront Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series between January 11 and 17, marking their final T20I assignment before the World Cup in June. Hardik might reportedly miss the match. It is also reported that there are concerns about his participation in the IPL seasons as the chance the recovery from the ankle injury is not expected soon.
“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 BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity, Hindustan Times reported.
However, the latest development could be a blow to the Indian team and Mumbai Indians especially for the MI, which had announced Hardik as their captain for the IPL 2024 season, ending Rohit”s 10-year-long tenure.
