Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder for Team India, is expected to be absent for the important 2023 ODI World Cup match against New Zealand in Dharamshala this Sunday. He suffered an ankle injury during India’s seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Pune on Thursday.
As reported by the Indian Express, Hardik Pandya’s injury will be addressed at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, with the guidance of a specialized doctor from London. Short-term injections may also be considered as part of the treatment plan.
“He will be heading to Bengaluru where he has been asked to report to the NCA. The medical team assessed his ankle scan report and it looks he will be fine by taking an injection. The BCCI consulted a specialist doctor in England and they too were of the similar opinion. He will be missing the next game,” a BCCI official stated.
Currently, there is no discussion about Team India selecting a substitute for Hardik Pandya in their World Cup roster. Captain Rohit Sharma expressed hope for the star all-rounder’s recovery from his injury.
“He (Hardik) pulled up a bit sore, nothing really major to worry. We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow morning and then plan on how to go forward,” Rohit said during the post-match presentation.
With their victory over Bangladesh, Team India secured their fourth straight win in the 2023 ODI World Cup. They are one of the two teams that remain undefeated in the tournament, the other being New Zealand.
Hardik Pandya sustained an ankle twist when he attempted to halt the ball during his follow-through
In the ninth over of the first innings, Hardik Pandya joined the attack. He attempted to block the ball with his foot during his follow-through, leading to an awkward fall. Medical personnel promptly attended to him, but he had to leave the field and couldn’t continue participating.
During the first innings, Hardik underwent scans, and while he was available as a batter for the run chase, Team India didn’t need his services. They secured a seven-wicket victory with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century leading the way.
Team India has various options to consider in Hardik’s absence for the upcoming match against New Zealand. They could include Suryakumar Yadav, who has been performing well in ODIs, thus maintaining a lineup with five bowlers, and Shardul Thakur as a specialist.
Another strategy could involve bringing in Mohammed Shami to capitalize on the seam and swing bowling conditions in Dharamshala, while having Shardul as the No. 7 batsman.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
