“Let him play only in the IPL,” said one disappointed and unhappy fan after reports suggested that Hardik Pandya will not be fit to play any international cricket until the IPL 2024.
Hardik Pandya has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming 5-T20I series against Australia at home. He is also set to miss the entire multi-format tour of South Africa (3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Tests) in December-January, then 3 T20Is at home against Afghanistan, and 5 Tests against England.
Hardik Pandya will return to action in late March/early April when he will lead the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2024 season.
Pandya tore a ligament in his left ankle during the World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh on October 19 in Pune. He was then ruled out from the remainder of India’s campaign and later advised six to eight weeks of rest.
However, now, his recovery time has been extended to about three months and he will miss plenty of international fixtures. This is a big dent to the selectors and the management’s plans as India start to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA, which will start in early June, just a week after the IPL 2024 will conclude in late May.
Hardik Pandya has led India in T20Is since last year as Rohit Sharma was rested from all T20Is this year. The selectors were reportedly planning to make Hardik the new T20I captain after the World Cup 2023, but his injury has now derailed their plans.
Whether it will be Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, or Jasprit Bumrah – who will lead India in next year’s T20 World Cup is uncertain.
Fans expressed their frustrations with Hardik Pandya on Twitter:
According to a report in Times Of India, Hardik Pandya will return straightaway in the IPL 2024 and will play the entire season for the Gujarat Titans.
