Mumbai Indians Captain Hardik Pandya Likely To Be Ruled Out From IPL 2024

Mumbai Indians (MI) face a significant setback as their newly appointed captain, Hardik Pandya, may miss the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season due to an ankle injury, raising doubts about his participation in the tournament. Hardik’s move to MI occurred through a trade with Gujarat Titans (GT), and he was initially named in GT’s retention list but later traded to MI in an all-cash deal before the IPL 2024 auction. Following this trade, MI announced Hardik Pandya as their captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma.

Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya is likely to sit out the T20I series against Afghanistan, and his availability for IPL 2024 remains uncertain. The all-rounder suffered a ligament tear in his right ankle during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 while playing for India against Bangladesh. The injury, classified as a Grade 2 tear, forced him to miss the rest of the World Cup, with fast bowler Prasidh Krishna taking his place in the squad.

Initially expected to be out for four to six weeks, Hardik’s rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore took longer than anticipated. As a result, he missed subsequent T20I series against Australia and South Africa. Hardik, who had previously played seven seasons for MI in the IPL before being released in 2022, returned to captaining the Gujarat Titans. Under his leadership, GT won their maiden IPL trophy and reached the final in the 2023 season, losing to the Chennai Super Kings.

In the recent white-ball leg of the India vs. South Africa tour, Hardik Pandya’s absence continued as he missed both the T20I and ODI series due to his lingering ankle injury. Suryakumar Yadav led India to a 4-1 series win against Australia in Hardik’s absence, while the T20I series ended in a draw. The uncertainty surrounding Hardik’s participation in the IPL 2024 raises concerns for Mumbai Indians as they prepare for the upcoming season under his captaincy.