India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya, after spending considerable time on the sidelines due to an ankle injury he sustained during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, is set to return in India colors when the Men of Azul welcome Afghanistan for a 3-match T20I series in January next year at home. Furthermore, it is very likely that he will appear in the next edition of IPL starting in March.
Pandya fractured his ankle during India’s CWC league stage match against Bangladesh, where he accidentally dragged his right ankle while trying to stop a direct shot from Litton Das on 19 October. The Baroda-born all-rounder looked totally sore and uncomfortable as soon as he stood up before being taken out of the action.
Hardik was then rushed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for further checks and after the scan results came out, Hardik Pandya was completely ruled out from the rest of the tournament. The 30-year-old underwent rehabilitation during the World Cup itself and two weeks after that incident in Pune, Pandya had even hit the nets while bowling.
He was under the supervision of NCA strength and conditioning coaches, who had asked him to increase his pace slowly. It was confirmed that Pandya did not feel any pain while he bowled the first deliveries, however, he informed the NCA officials about the slight discomfort he felt in his right ankle after bowling the fourth delivery.
As a result, Hardik Pandya was forced to withdraw from the World Cup, which he confirmed with a post that read, “It is difficult to digest the fact that I will be missing the remaining part of the World Cup. I will be with the team, in spirit, cheering them on every ball of every game. Thank you for all the wishes, love and support it has been incredible.” – wrote Pandya in X.
While recovering from the ankle injury, Pandya had to miss the home T20I series against Australia and also the tour to South Africa, where he was supposed to lead the team.
Sources confirm Hardik Pandya will return in time for IPL 2024
According to our inside sources, all the rumors doing the rounds about Hardik Pandya being excluded from IPL 2024 are just mere rumours. He has recovered from his ankle injury and exercises every day. The new Mumbai Indians captain is likely to return through the upcoming 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan at home and the first T20 will take place on January 11 in Mohali.
In his absence, Surya Kumar Yadav and KL Rahul served as India’s captains during the white-ball series (ODI and T20I) against South Africa. “Hardik is fit and well. In fact, he has been exercising daily. All the talk that he will miss the IPL is just a rumour. There are still almost four months left for IPL-2024, so anything, at this point, is just speculation.”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah also commented on his fitness during the WPL auction on December 9. Shah confirmed that Hardik Pandya was working very hard in the NCA and also confirmed his return for the Afghanistan series.
“We are monitoring it (Pandya’s physical condition) day by day. He is solely in the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He is working very hard and we will let you know in due course when he is fit. He could also be fit before the Afghanistan series.” – said Jay Shah.