Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-rounder, faces continued setbacks as he’s ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan on December 11. Pandya has been sidelined from cricket since sustaining a ligament tear in his right ankle during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 while playing against Bangladesh.
The injury, a Grade 2 tear, occurred when Pandya landed awkwardly while attempting to stop a shot, forcing him out of the remainder of the World Cup. Initially projected for a four to six-week recovery, Pandya’s return was delayed due to a prolonged rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
Despite expectations for his comeback, Pandya’s recovery took longer than anticipated, causing him to miss subsequent T20I series against Australia and South Africa. His absence in these key series has been a setback for the Indian cricket team.
A stalwart of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL for seven seasons, Pandya joined the Gujarat Titans for the 2022 edition. He led the team to secure their maiden IPL trophy and steered them to the 2023 season final, where they faced a defeat against the Chennai Super Kings.
As Pandya remains out of action due to the persisting injury, his absence continues to be felt in the Indian cricket lineup, leaving fans eager for his return to the field.
