After a prolonged absence, Hardik Pandya is set to make his return to competitive cricket in the DY Patil T20 tournament starting today. Leading the Reliance team, Pandya will face Bharat Petroleum in their opening match. The Mumbai Indians skipper sustained an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup group stage against Bangladesh in Pune, sidelining him for over four months.
The National Cricket Academy (NCA) had enrolled him in a high-performance program to ensure his fitness for upcoming white-ball assignments. Notably, Pandya will join forces with players like Tilak Verma, Nehal Wadhera, and Piyush Chawla in the Reliance squad.
WATCH – Umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s Playful Facebook Story Amidst Ben Stokes’ Emotions
Ishan Kishan, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, was absent from Reliance’s Playing XI, indicating his potential participation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) team. The DY Patil T20 tournament serves as a crucial platform for IPL players to prepare for the upcoming Indian Premier League.
With the Ranji Trophy group stage concluded, top players are expected to showcase their skills in the tournament, slated to conclude on March 9.
HARDIK PANDYA IS BACK….!!!!
– Hardik is leading Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 tournament. pic.twitter.com/hKnuArA5Wu
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 26, 2024
In another development, Dinesh Karthik, the wicketkeeper-batsman for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will not be in the commentary box for the fifth India-England Test in Dharamsala. Instead, he will participate in the DY Patil T20 tournament, representing DY Patil B.
ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar Responds Firmly To Critics, Defends Ranchi Pitch Conditions
Dinesh Karthik’s notable performance in the previous edition included scoring 138 runs in four innings at an impressive strike rate of 168.29. His team reached the title clash but lost to Reliance 1 in a last-over thriller. All matches of the DY Patil T20 tournament will be held at DY Patil Stadium and DY Patil University Ground, featuring 16 teams divided into four groups. The tournament will be exclusively streamed on the Jio Cinema App.
