Pandya Setback: Star All-rounder to Miss Afghanistan Series probably in shape before the IPL

Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya shared the "freak injury" he suffered during the World Cup 2023, disclosing that it took more time to heal him due to the push he took initially. While trying to prevent a boundary that was coming when it saw the online World Cup match against India, and Bangladesh at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pandya was injured. His left leg was twisted and in pain, as he tried to save the ball with his right foot but fell and slipped on the surface.

• The forthcoming T20I series against Afghanistan is expected to be without Hardik Pandya.
• Hardik will probably be ready for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Hardik has not participated in any international cricket matches after his injury during the World Cup.

The injury I had in the World Cup occurred without any warning signs. It was just an occurrence that was not related to my previous injuries, neither was it related to my physical fitness. That was when I attempted to scoop the ball and accidentally twisted my ankle. I could have been home in 3 months maximum. Finally Day 1 my injury out of the World Cup has shown that it will. To don the Indian jersey and represent your country is always a special feeling. We persevered on the 10th day and know that it was a hard rocky road to success even if we were unprepared for the semi-finals or finals. He added, "While pushing I accidentally made my injury worse so I had to sit out a bit longer."

I have been fit since the Afghanistan series started, but there haven't been any games to play since then," he said.

Such a time was when he missed to feature in the series of T20Is at home against Australia as well as the tour to South Africa comprising of 3 ODIs and T20Is each. Suryakumar Yadav, the number one ranked T20I batter, took responsibility for keeping the side together as Pandya was unavailable due to injury. Pandya mentioned that he was offered fitness when India went through their three-match T20I series with Afghanistan but his unavailability happened to be the reason that there were no matches to be played