Hardik Pandya Returns to Competitive Cricket Ahead of IPL 2024

Successful Comeback Hardik Pandya made a successful return to competitive cricket after recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Playing for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 Cup

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Performance Highlights Pandya opened the bowling and impressed with figures of 2 for 22 from three overs. He then showcased his batting skills by playing a crucial role in seeing off a tense chase, remaining unbeaten on 3 off four balls

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Road to Recovery Over the past two months, Pandya has been working on his fitness, resuming training in Baroda and featuring in practice T20s organized by the NCA. His consistent performance in these matches led to his clearance by the NCA to participate in the DY Patil tournament.

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Upcoming Schedule Pandya is set to undergo a final fitness assessment at the NCA before joining Mumbai Indians' pre-season camp for IPL 2024, which begins on March 22. He is expected to play a crucial role for Mumbai Indians and will take over as the team's captain from Rohit Sharma.

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IPL Preparations Pandya's participation in the DY Patil tournament aligns with his preparations for IPL 2024. His return to competitive cricket signifies his readiness to compete at the highest level after overcoming injury challenges.

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Notable Absences The DY Patil tournament also features other prominent players like Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer. However, Kishan and Iyer's absence from the Ranji Trophy has raised questions, considering the BCCI's emphasis on prioritizing domestic cricket.

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Curious Cases Ishan Kishan, who last played for India in December, and Shreyas Iyer, who was left out of the Test squad against England due to poor form and fitness concerns, are notable figures in the tournament.

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