Report: Hardik Pandya gets ruled out of Afghanistan T20I series, will be fit ahead of IPL 2024

Team India is all set to host Afghanistan for three matches of the T20I series in January 2024, marking the final series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, which is slated to take place in May and June next year in the West Indies and USA. Notably, the fans eagerly await an official announcement from the Indian Cricket Board on India’s permanent T20I captain, as there has been no official word on the matter.

However, India had dealt two injury blows ahead of the series as two of their stand-in captains would miss all three matches of the upcoming T20I series. Notably, Hardik Pandya got injured in the ODI World Cup 2023 clash against Bangladesh at MCA in Pune and was not returned to the side. In contrast to that Suryakumar Yadav also sustained injuries during the third T20I against South Africa, which ruled him out as well.

Meanwhile, according to new reports, Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the T20I series against Afghanistan along with Suryakumar Yadav and Ruturaj Gaikwad. In addition, all three-star cricketers will directly feature in the upcoming edition of the IPL, slated to take place from March to May.

Hardik Pandya has been leading India in the T20I formats since his IPL title win in 2022

It is noted that Rohit Sharma will be leading the side in the upcoming T20I series in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. The 36-year-old cricketer has not played a single T20I game since India’s 10-wicket loss in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 against England in Adelaide, Australia.

Moreover, the star cricketer will not be leading the Mumbai Indians after Hardik Pandya is named as the new skipper ahead of IPL 2024. Hardik Pandya has led the Indian team in the T20I formats since his IPL title win in 2022. Furthermore, the 30-year-old cricketer has great records in the shortest form of the game for Team India under his captaincy.