Aoba Tanaka 
In a significant setback for India’s T20 World Cup preparations, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav could miss the upcoming series against Afghanistan due to an ankle injury. The Grade-II tear, sustained during the T20I series against South Africa, might sideline him for seven weeks, affecting India’s plans leading up to the marquee tournament in 2024.
The injury occurred in the third over of South Africa’s innings during the third T20I in Johannesburg. Despite scoring a century in the same match, Suryakumar rolled his ankle while fielding, leading to him being assisted off the field. Vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja took charge for the rest of the game, which India won convincingly by 106 runs.
Suryakumar’s absence would be keenly felt, especially after his outstanding form after the 2023 World Cup. Having scored over 2000 runs in T20Is, he became the third Indian batter, alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to achieve this milestone. His century against South Africa at the Wanderers further solidified his impact in the format.
The injury not only rules Suryakumar out of the Afghanistan series but also raises questions about his availability for the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the T20 World Cup. Additionally, Hardik Pandya, recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the 2023 World Cup, remains uncertain for the Afghanistan series, beginning on January 11.
The Indian team management faces the challenge of finding suitable replacements and reshaping the batting order without key players. The situation adds an element of uncertainty to India’s T20 World Cup preparations, emphasizing the importance of player fitness and depth in the squad.
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