Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was notably absent from the Indian squad that traveled to New York for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The departure featured several key players, including Rohit Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, who were seen boarding the flight to New York in preparation for the tournament.
However, Pandya’s absence from this group raised eyebrows. The Indian vice-captain endured a challenging season in the IPL 2024 as the new captain of Mumbai Indians. Compounding his professional struggles, rumors about his alleged separation from his wife, Natasa Stankovic, have surfaced, adding to his personal turmoil.
Reports suggest that Pandya has left the country post-IPL and is currently vacationing at an undisclosed international location. Despite this, he is expected to join the Indian team in New York in time for their first training session for the T20 World Cup, as reported by Cricbuzz.
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The rest of the Indian players, including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Avesh Khan, along with Rinku Singh, are scheduled to fly to New York later.
Hardik Pandya will join the Indian team in New York tomorrow. He was enjoying his vacations overseas currently and on his way to USA now. #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Mzz2DWoDLQ
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) May 26, 2024
Another significant absence in the first batch was star batter Virat Kohli. The 35-year-old sought and received permission from the BCCI to extend his break following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s exit from the 17th IPL season.
With the main contingent now in New York, Rohit Sharma and his team will participate in a warm-up match against Bangladesh before officially starting their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Their first match is set against Ireland on June 5, marking the eighth game of the tournament.
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The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match will take place on June 9 at the same venue. India’s Group A includes Pakistan, the USA, Canada, and Ireland. Following their match against Ireland, the team will face Pakistan, the USA on June 12, and will conclude the group stage with a game against Canada on June 15.
The Indian squad’s journey and performance in the T20 World Cup are keenly awaited, with fans hoping the team can bring home the trophy.
