The sources said the all-rounder is training and it is too soon to say anything as there is still time for the tournament.
Pandya left the recently concluded ICC ODI Men’s World Cup midway due to an ankle injury and reports have suggested that he would not participate in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
Pandya, 30, made a comeback to the Mumbai Indians squad recently following a two-year stint at Gujarat Titans and was named skipper of the five-time champions. In his two-season stint at Titans, Hardik scored 833 runs in 30 innings, with an average of 41.65 and strike rate of 133.49. He took 11 wickets for them with an economy of 8.1.
Pandya’s return to MI made waves, but his replacement as the captain evoked sharp criticisms from various sections of cricketing fanbase.
Pandya has led India in 13 of their last 25 T20Is but is currently out of action with an ankle injury sustained during this year’s ODI World Cup.Mumbai Indians said the change in leadership was a part of their future planning and thanked Rohit, the joint-most-successful captain in the tournament’s history alongside Chennai Super Kings’ M.S. Dhoni.Hardik began his IPL career at Mumbai Indians and developed into one of the best allrounders in the game. In 2015, he was bought for Rs 10 lakhs as an uncapped player and was a part of Mumbai’s title-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.