Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to skip India’s upcoming tour to South Africa due to an ongoing left ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup clash against Bangladesh on October 19. The injury requires additional recovery time, and Pandya is expected to regain full fitness in about four weeks.
India’s tour of South Africa includes three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests, with the T20I series starting on December 10 in Durban. While Pandya will miss the South Africa series, reports suggest that he aims to return for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled from January 11 to January 17.
The absence of Pandya poses a captaincy question for India in the T20I series against South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may request Rohit Sharma to lead the T20I team. If Rohit agrees, he might also take charge during the T20 World Cup in 2024. However, if Rohit declines, Suryakumar Yadav, the current captain for the ongoing T20I series against Australia, could continue leading the team in South Africa.
The BCCI is set to announce the white-ball teams for the South Africa tour on November 30, with the Test team announcement expected in December. Additionally, Virat Kohli has opted for a break from white-ball cricket, making him unavailable for the T20Is and ODIs against South Africa. However, Kohli is likely to return for the Test series starting on December 26.
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