In a rare public appearance since his injury, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya graced the inauguration of the Gandhinagar Premier League alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, February 12 in Ahmedabad. The league, aimed at fostering better physical health, witnessed Pandya joining Shah in unveiling the tournament’s trophy, with the esteemed presence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Secretary Jay Shah adding to the event’s significance.
Pandya is presently recuperating from an ankle injury, sidelining him from national duties since his unfortunate mishap during India’s ODI World Cup 2023 clash against Bangladesh.
Hardik Pandya Inaugurates Gandhinagar Premier League With Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Amit Shah took to Twitter to underscore the event’s significance, expressing confidence that the tournament would catalyze a sports culture and promote a healthy lifestyle in the region. His tweet highlighted the ongoing “Parliamentarian Sports Competition” under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, with the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Premier League representing a crucial initiative in this endeavor.
In Pandya’s absence from the Indian T20I squad, Suryakumar Yadav assumed the captaincy mantle against Australia and South Africa, garnering attention for his leadership and on-field performances. However, Yadav’s ankle twist during the T20I series against South Africa paved the way for Rohit Sharma’s return to captaincy in the subsequent Afghanistan series. Rohit, reinstated as captain after a hiatus, made an impactful comeback with a century.
With Pandya absent from the three-match series against Afghanistan, all eyes are now on his anticipated return in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season, where he is set to lead the Mumbai Indians franchise. His return to the IPL stage is eagerly awaited, marking a potential resurgence following his injury setback.
Also read: MI: Most Fifties and Hundreds for Mumbai Indians in IPL
Thank you for reading.
