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As Team India gear up to face South Africa in the T20I series, commencing today at Kingsmead in Durban, the absence of Hardik Pandya from the side has left fans anticipating his return. Originally slated to captain India in the shortest format, Pandya sustained an injury during the ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh, rendering him unavailable for the series. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav has been given the responsibility to lead the side.
Injury raises questions about IPL and T20 World Cup participation
Pandya’s injury has raised concerns among Team India supporters, particularly regarding his availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and, more significantly, the T20 World Cup in 2024. To address these concerns, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah has shared a crucial update on Pandya’s injury status and potential comeback.
Jay Shah reveals possible return date for Hardik Pandya
Speaking to reporters, Shah stated that the star all-rounder is anticipated to make his comeback during India’s T20 series against Afghanistan in January. “Hardik Pandya could be fit for Afghanistan T20 series in January,” Shah mentioned during the interaction with the press.
Pandya’s current status
Providing insights into Pandya’s current situation, Shah mentioned that the cricketer is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
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“We are monitoring it on a day-to-day basis. He is at NCA only, he is working very hard, and we will let you know in the due course the moment he is fit. He could be fit before the Afghanistan series also,” Shah added.
T20I battle in January awaits Pandya’s possible return
Afghanistan are scheduled to tour India in January, and the T20 series against them could mark Pandya’s return to the international cricketing arena. The series opener is set for January 11 in Mohali, with subsequent matches on January 14 and 17 in Indore and Bengaluru, respectively.
Notably, this series represents the first instance of a multi-match white-ball series between the two nations. India, having won all five previous T20I encounters against Afghanistan, look forward to maintaining their unbeaten record.
