it is a blow to Indian cricket fans that Suryakumar Yadav Hardik Pandya and Ruturaj Gaikwad will not be on the India squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. both Suryakumar and Hardik are likely to be seen in IPL action while Gaikwad is also going to miss out on the first part of England Test series due to a finger injury.

His ankle was injured while fielding during the third and final match in Johannesburg recently when playing for India T20Is captain Suryakumar had to go through surgery on that injury. He will most likely be able to train again soon.

On the other hand, Hardik is still focusing on his strength and conditioning though he has not yet reached peak fitness. As a preventive action, the medical team suggested him to continue following his workload.

India’s series against Afghanistan is its final bilateral T20I assignment before the upcoming T20 World Cup which begins on June 1 in between IPL. Ideally, all their first-choice 15 would have been available to the selectors including Hardik who limped out of the ODI World Cup having torn ligaments in his lower back during a league fixture against Bangladesh at Pune last month.

That would have opened up a major inquiry as to whether he should be appointed captain, if sound for the Afghanistan series. 2022 T20 World Cup that Hardik would step into Rohit’s shoes and captained the format.