Mumbai Indians' Captain Hardik Pandya may miss IPL due to ankle injury

PTC Web Desk: Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya could potentially miss the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season due to an ankle injury, say sources. This development follows Hardik Pandya's transfer from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians before the IPL players' auction. Initially included in Gujarat Titans' retention list, Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal before the IPL auction.

Reportedly, Hardik Pandya's absence is expected in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, raising doubts about his participation in the IPL season due to his ongoing recovery from an ankle injury sustained during a World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune.

After the trade, Mumbai Indians promptly announced Pandya as the franchise's new captain for the upcoming IPL season, succeeding long-serving captain Rohit Sharma.

Pandya, who had previously played seven IPL seasons for Mumbai, was released before the 2022 season. Joining Gujarat Titans, he notably led the team to consecutive IPL finals, clinching the trophy in their inaugural season.

His recent injury forced him to miss the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour and the T20I series against Australia. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav led India to a 4-1 series victory over Australia, while the T20I series ended in a draw.

If Pandya indeed misses the IPL season, it could be a significant setback for both Team India and Mumbai Indians.

During the IPL auction, Mumbai Indians secured South African pacer Gerald Coetzee as their first acquisition for Rs 5 crore. Additionally, they bolstered their pace options with Sri Lankan pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Thushara, along with Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Mumbai Indians retained players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and others. In the auction, they added players like Shreyas Gopal, Naman Dhir, among others, to their squad.

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