Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to miss the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan due to an ongoing ankle injury he sustained during a league stage encounter in Cricket World Cup 2023 against Bangladesh on October 19.
As per the reports by ANI, Pandya is expected to regain full fitness well before the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in March.
Earlier, Pandya missed the T20I series against Australia and also the three-match T20I and ODI series during the South Africa tour. Suryakumar Yadav took charge of the T20I side in Pandya's absence.
Looking ahead, the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled from January 11-17 will be India's final international assignment before the much-anticipated ICC T20 World Cup, set to take place in June in West Indies and USA.
Away from the international scene, Pandya made headlines with a shocking move to Mumbai Indians in the trading window just before the IPL 2024 auction in December. Pandya moved from Gujarat Titans (GT) to his former franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) in a record-breaking transfer.
The move came after Pandya's impactful two-year stint with GT, where he played a key role in the team's debut season in 2022, leading them to clinch the coveted trophy. The back to back final appearance in the IPL proved Pandya's mettle as the future captain.
Pandya now shoulders the responsibility of captaining MI, replacing Rohit Sharma, who guided the franchise to an impressive five IPL title victories. Pandya has won a total of five IPL trophies, four with MI (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), and one with GT (2022).
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Pandya during his tenure with GT, scored 833 runs at an average of 37.86 and a striking strike rate exceeding 133 in 31 matches from 2022-23. His contributions included six half-centuries, with a highest score of unbeaten 87 runs. In the bowling department, Pandya claimed 11 wickets for the team, including the best figures of 3/17.
Pandya played for MI from 2015-2021, featuring in 92 matches and accumulating 1,476 runs at an average of 27.33 and an impressive strike rate exceeding 153. His all-round capabilities were highlighted by his 42 wickets for the team, including the best bowling figures of 3/20.