“As expected”- Hardik Pandya to miss rest of 2023 and likely to return for 2024 IPL, netizens not surprised
Hardik Pandya is the current T20I Captain, but this absence could affect the team.
Hardik Pandya will return to full fitness in January (Image via ESPN)
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya tore a ligament in his ankle during India’s World Cup fixture against Bangladesh on 19th October. He was expected to return towards the end of the group stages, but news later came out that he was ruled out of the World Cup. Many expected him to return for the South African tour, but a BCCI source has now revealed that he will return in the 2024 IPL.
According to a report by Times of India, Pandya will return to full fitness by January, just after Afghanistan’s T20 series with India. As India don’t have any scheduled T20Is till after the IPL, he is likely return to cricket in the 2024 IPL. After the 2022 T20 World Cup Pandya took over the role of the T20 captain, captaining every T20I India has played since then.
Although Pandya will be fit during England’s tour of India, which consists of 5 Tests, he isn’t in the red-ball set up due to his injury issues and will not feature also. In the IPL, he captains Gujarat Titans, which he led in 2022 and 2023. He also won the IPL in 2022 in his first attempt as captain.
Netizens not surprised with Hardik Pandya’s absence
When the news broke out about Hardik Pandya missing all India matches till the IPL, fans on the internet were not surprised with the news. Many said money mattered more for the 30-year-old all-rounder. Many also said Pandya was unfit to be Indian captain as he was missing many matches for India. One did defend him, saying Pandya was unlucky to deal with so many injuries.
In case you missed:
For the upcoming T20I series with Australia, India have announced a squad filled with young T20 stars who have shown their mettle in the IPL and T20Is. The 2024 IPL will start in March, a few days after the conclusion of England’s tour of India, which consists of 5 Test matches. The 2024 IPL auction has been scheduled for sometime in December as well.
In case you missed!
- Which IPL teams can pick Travis Head in IPL 2024?
- Did Mitchell Marsh DISRESPECT World Cup by resting his legs on the trophy? Netizens divided
Dhruv Kulkarni
(1120 Articles Published)