Before IPL 2024, renowned all-rounder Hardik Pandya makes a comeback on the field during the DY Patil T20 tournament

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, has finally returned to cricket action by leading the Reliance 1 team in the DY Patil T20 tournament. Pandya had been sidelined from international cricket since sustaining an ankle injury during India’s ICC Cricket World Cup group stage clash against Bangladesh last October.

Due to his injury, Pandya was absent from India’s home series against Australia, which included five T20Is, as well as the tour to South Africa, featuring three ODIs and T20Is each. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav, the top-ranked T20I batsman, took charge as captain.

Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Pandya was traded to the Mumbai Indians (MI) from the Gujarat Titans (GT) in November. He replaced Rohit Sharma, the five-time IPL-winning captain, in MI’s lineup for the 2024 season.

Pandya is now leading a star-studded lineup including players like Tilak Verma, Nehal Wadhera, Akash Madhwal, and Piyush Chawla, who could also feature alongside him in MI under his leadership.

However, in the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for June in the West Indies and the USA, Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian side to break India’s ICC trophy drought. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for the tournament and expressed confidence in India’s prospects, aiming to clinch the coveted T20 cricket prize and end the ICC trophy drought that has persisted for over a decade.

“The loss in the final of the World Cup 2023 may have been disappointing, but our consistent performance, winning 10 matches in a row, won the hearts of fans. I am confident that India, under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, will lift the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados,” said the BCCI secretary.