Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya won’t be playing in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan starting on January 11. Unfortunately, Ruturaj Gaikwad is also out due to a finger injury, and he might miss the early part of the England Test series.
SuryaKumar injured his ankle during T20Is and Hardik is still in rehab after Ligament tear during ODI WorldCup
Suryakumar injured his ankle during the T20Is in South Africa last December, leading to surgery. He is expected to resume training in a few months. As for Hardik, who suffered a ligament tear during the ODI World Cup in November, he is still in rehab. While the medical team predicted a quick recovery, Hardik is not yet at his optimal fitness level. To be cautious, the team has advised him to monitor his workload.
The Afghanistan series is crucial as it is India’s final bilateral T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup in June, following the IPL. Ideally, selectors wanted all their first-choice players, including Hardik, available. However, his ongoing rehab has delayed his return to action.
If Hardik had been fit for the Afghanistan series, there might have been discussions about him captaining the team. After the 2022 T20 World Cup, there were speculations that Hardik could replace Rohit Sharma as the captain in T20Is.
Looking ahead, both Suryakumar and Hardik are expected to make a comeback during the IPL. Suryakumar’s surgery and subsequent recovery are anticipated to allow him to return to action after a couple of months. On the other hand, Hardik continues to focus on strength and conditioning in his rehab, aiming for a gradual return to full fitness.
India will miss Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the T20I series against Afghanistan. The hope is for their return during the IPL, ensuring they are in good form ahead of the T20 World Cup.
