Suryakumar Yadav sidelined due to ankle injury, while Hardik Pandya's participation doubtful for Afghanistan series.

 Suryakumar Yadav is set to miss the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, commencing on January 11, due to an ankle injury sustained during the recent series against South Africa. The 31-year-old cricketer twisted his ankle while fielding in Johannesburg, and there are concerns of a potential tear that could require up to six weeks for recovery.

In the absence of both Suryakumar Yadav and the doubtful participation of Hardik Pandya, the selectors may consider appointing Rohit Sharma as the captain for the series. Alternatively, Ravindra Jadeja could serve as a stop-gap leader, although he is slated to play all five Tests against England, necessitating careful workload management.

Unfortunately, Ruturaj Gaikwad, the skipper of the Asian Games, has also suffered an injury, breaking his finger and ruling him out of contention for the series. Suryakumar Yadav has reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation, and the medical team has officially deemed him unfit for the Afghanistan series. Given his unlikely selection for Tests, there is speculation that he may participate in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai in February to assess his fitness before the Indian Premier League (IPL).

A confidential BCCI source shared insights into Suryakumar Yadav's situation, stating, "Surya has reported to NCA for rehab work, and the Medical Science team, as of now, has ruled him injured. He won't be able to play against Afghanistan, which starts in three weeks' time. Since he is unlikely to be selected for Tests, he will possibly play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in February to check his fitness before playing in the IPL."

The unavailability of key players poses a challenge for the Indian team, necessitating strategic decisions and effective management of resources ahead of the series against Afghanistan.