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After the ODI World Cup 2023, India will take on Australia in a five-match T20I series. While the first match is set to be held in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by a game in Guwahati, Nagpur, Hyderabad or Bengaluru. But with the team looking to rest Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and other senior players, in a big update, Hardik Pandya is also likely to miss the T20I series.
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As per a recent report, Pandya, who has been India’s T20I skipper, is nursing at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The Indian all-rounder suffered an ankle injury in the 2023 ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh, thereafter, missing the remaining matches with the BCCI ruling him out of the season. As quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI), Hardik is unlikely to be fit for the Australian series and will now make a return for the South African tour, scheduled in December.
“There is some time before Hardik can be declared fit and available for selection. It would be more practical for him to try and complete his rehabilitation with a possible RTP (Return to Play) during the SA series. It will certainly be NCA sports science team’ call,” a BCCI source informed PTI.
If reports are to be further believed, Suryakumar Yadav or Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to lead the side for the upcoming five-match series. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav was the vice-captain for the side last year when Hardik led the team, whereas Ruturaj captained the side in India's 2023 Asian Game gold-winning campaign.
