‘Fully fit’ Hardik Pandya likely to lead India in T20Is

Hardik Pandya is all set to lead India in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka but the ace all-rounder will miss the ODIs due to personal reasons. It is learnt that the 30-year-old is fully fit and has already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his availability for the Sri Lanka series.

“Hardik Pandya has already informed the Indian Cricket Association about his availability for the Sri Lanka series and he will return home after playing the three T20Is. There are no injury concerns and he is fully fit. He wanted the leave for personal reasons and got it,” said a source following the developments.

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Pandya played a key role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, making crucial contributions with both bat and ball. The seamer took crucial wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller and remained very calm while bowling the crucial last over. In India’s eight matches, he bowled 25 overs without any discomfort and has been in top form since the freak injury in the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh.

“Since that weird injury at the World Cup, there have been no more injury worries. He has played the entire IPL season without any discomfort and was in top form during the T20 World Cup. That’s almost three months of non-stop cricket,” the source added.

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The all-rounder was Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the 2024 T20 World Cup and is all set to wear the captaincy permanently in the shortest format. It is known that everyone in the Indian cricket board is on the same page regarding Pandya, the T20I captain, and there have been no talks of exploring other options.

India will play three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka before the action shifts to the home season which begins with the Test series against Bangladesh. The Sri Lanka tour will be Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach of the Indian cricket team.

The all-rounder was Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the 2024 T20 World Cup and is all set to wear the captaincy permanently in the shortest format. It is known that everyone in the Indian cricket board is on the same page regarding Pandya, the T20I captain, and there have been no talks of exploring other options.

India will play three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka before the action shifts to the home season which begins with the Test series against Bangladesh. The Sri Lanka tour will be Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach of the Indian cricket team.