New Delhi: India’s all-rounder player, Hardik Pandya, is likely to miss the upcoming World Cup clashes against England on October 29 and Sri Lanka on November 2 due to his ongoing recovery process from an ankle injury sustained during the match against Bangladesh on October 19.
Hardik Pandya is undergoing treatment for his left ankle sprain at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He is yet to resume bowling in the nets, aiming for a comeback in the later stages of the World Cup, according to sources.
Hardik Pandya suffered a left ankle injury while attempting to prevent a shot off his own bowling during the match against Bangladesh in Pune. After delivering just three balls, he had to be assisted off the field and played no further role in the game.
Pandya didn’t travel with the Indian team to Dharamsala for the October 22 match against New Zealand. Instead, he arrived at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Monday, where he is undergoing treatment and observation by the medical team.
Despite the earlier announcement by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) stating that Hardik Pandya would rejoin the team in Lucknow before their match against England, it appears that circumstances have changed.
The team management is inclined to avoid hastening Hardik Pandya’s return to the field and aims to provide him with ample time for a full recovery from the ankle injury.
With Hardik Pandya unavailable in the match against New Zealand, India excluded Shardul Thakur from the XI and included Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav. Shami made a significant impact by securing a 5-wicket haul in his World Cup 2023 debut.
India currently leads the World Cup 2023 points table, having secured victories in all five of their matches, positioning them well for a spot in the semi-finals.