Mohammed Siraj was seen in visible discomfort after being struck by a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya during a practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, February 20. The Indian pacer was reportedly hit on his left knee while bowling in the nets.
As per a journalist from RevSportz, Siraj appeared to be in significant pain following the incident. Several images later circulated on social media, showing the 31-year-old lying on the ground as Hardik and members of India’s support staff rushed to check on his condition.
Mohammed Siraj teething in pain after getting struck on his left knee by a Hardik Pandya shot at the nets. pic.twitter.com/Gqf3LfN2Qy
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 20, 2026
Fortunately, the injury did not appear to be serious, as the journalist later revealed that Siraj returned to bowling after using a pain-relief spray. It is worth noting that Siraj was included in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad at the last moment, replacing Harshit Rana, who sustained a knee injury during the Men in Blue’s warm-up fixture against South Africa.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has delivered crucial contributions with both bat and ball in the tournament. He has amassed 87 runs in four innings at an impressive strike rate of 155.35. The right-arm pacer has also picked up five wickets in four matches, maintaining an economy rate of 7.92.
Mohammed Siraj Has Played Only One Match For India In T20 World Cup 2026 So Far
Mohammed Siraj was picked in India’s playing XI for their tournament opener against the United States of America (USA), stepping in after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to illness. Returning to the T20I setup after 557 days, Siraj delivered an impressive spell, finishing with figures of 4-0-29-3.
However, he was left out of the next three group-stage fixtures once Bumrah regained full fitness and rejoined the side. Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, India have remained unbeaten in the competition, registering victories over the USA, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands to secure the top spot in Group A.
The reigning champions have progressed to Group 1 of the Super 8s, where they are grouped with Zimbabwe, South Africa, and West Indies. They will face South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, February 22.
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