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Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya Likely to Miss Sri Lanka ODIs, Gambhir Wants Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah to Play

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Hardik Pandya

Allrounder Hardik Pandya is expected to miss the ODI matches of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, while the new head coach Gautam Gambhir wants senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to participate in the series.

According to the Indian Express, Pandya, who played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean last month and is a top contender to lead the T20I team, might skip the ODIs due to personal reasons.

India’s squads for the Sri Lanka tour, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs, are likely to be announced today. This series will be Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach of the Indian team.

Also Read :-Warner Not in Australia’s Champions Trophy 2024 Squad, Confirms Selector

Hardik Pandya Notifies BCCI About His Absence

Pandya, who last played an ODI in October 2023 during the World Cup group game against Bangladesh and got injured, has reportedly informed the BCCI that he will be unavailable due to personal reasons. His absence could open the door for someone like Shivam Dube to make his mark as a fast-bowling allrounder in the ODIs.

Gambhir Urges Senior Players to Join ODI Series

It was previously speculated that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja might skip the Sri Lanka ODIs to extend their break after the T20 World Cup. However, Gambhir wants these key players to participate in the ODI series, emphasizing that the team will have another long break afterward.

The Sri Lanka series begins with T20Is on July 27, followed by ODIs starting on August 2, with the final match on August 7. The Indian team will then have a six-week break before playing Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai on September 19.

Also Read :- India vs Pakistan WCL 2024 Final: Yuvraj Singh’s team beats Younis Khan’s squad by 5 wickets in thrilling Edgbaston match.

Players Yet to Respond to Gambhir’s Request

As of now, Rohit and Kohli, who are on vacation with their families, have not yet responded to Gambhir’s request to play in the ODI series.

Hardik Pandya May Lose T20I Captaincy

Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya might lose out to Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I captaincy due to concerns about his fitness. Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership has been well-received within the Indian team.

Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI Spot Uncertain

With Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja having retired from T20Is, they are likely to be available for the ODI series. However, Jadeja’s place in the squad is uncertain as Axar Patel has emerged as a strong contender for the spin-bowling allrounder role in white-ball cricket for India.

Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant Sangeet: Nita Ambani gets teary-eyed on hugging Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya; Indian players get standing ovation

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Nita Ambani gets teary-eyed

The Indian cricket team has made us proud by winning the T20 World Cup trophy. Even though days have passed since the grand victory, the excitement continues. The celebration extended to Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s sangeet ceremony, where Nita Ambani paid tribute to cricketers Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Surya Kumar Yadav, who were present at the event.

At the sangeet, Nita Ambani honored Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma. A video from the event shows Nita inviting the three cricketers onto the stage. As they walked up, the popular song “Lehra Do” from the Ranveer Singh starrer “83” played in the background.

When Rohit Sharma stepped on stage, Nita gave him a hug. Surya Kumar Yadav was greeted by Akash Ambani, who shook hands and hugged him before he stood next to the Indian captain. Hardik Pandya then joined the stage, receiving a big hug from Nita Ambani. Dancers with Indian flags performed, and the audience waved their hands to the song’s beats.

Check out the video:

The star-studded sangeet ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant was attended by celebrities like Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, MS Dhoni, Sakshi Dhoni, Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ananya Panday, KL Rahul, Athiya Shetty, Sidharth Malhotra, and Kiara Advani.

After the sangeet, a Grah Shanti Puja will be held on July 8, followed by a celebration for the bride and groom on July 10. The couple will marry on July 12. An Ashirwad ceremony will be organized on July 13, and finally, there will be a grand wedding reception on July 14.

Hardik Pandya’s T20 World Cup Win: Natasa Stankovic Responds to Criticism

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Natasa Stankovic hints at feeling

Serbian model and actor Natasa Stankovic is facing criticism for not congratulating her husband, cricketer Hardik Pandya, after Team India won the T20 World Cup against South Africa on Saturday. She has now addressed the rumors about their marriage.

‘God is not surprised at what you’re going through’

In a video on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Natasa talked about feeling “discouraged, disappointed, sad, and often lost” in difficult times.

She said, “I was excited to read something from the Bible today that I really needed to hear. It says: ‘The Lord goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed’.”

She added, “When we go through tough times, we often feel down and lost. But God is with you. He knows what you’re going through and has a plan. He will never leave you or forsake you.”

Natasa’s Silence on Hardik’s Victory

Hardik Pandya played a key role in helping India win the ICC T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in a thrilling final in Barbados on Saturday. After the match, Hardik was emotional as India won their first ICC title since 2013.

However, Natasa, who is usually active on Instagram, did not post anything about the World Cup win, leading to rumors of their divorce.

Split Rumors

Natasa and Hardik got married on May 31, 2020, and welcomed their son Agastya on July 30 the same year. In May 2024, a Reddit post suggested that Natasa and Hardik had split.

The Reddit post mentioned that “they aren’t posting about each other on Instagram Stories” and didn’t wish each other on special days like birthdays. Natasa also didn’t attend IPL matches this year.

Earlier this year, Natasa faced online trolling for Hardik’s performance in IPL 2024, with many people leaving negative comments on her Instagram posts about Mumbai Indians’ poor start in the tournament.