Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s injury is “more serious” than it was initially thought of. This could mean that not only he could miss the remainder of the four group-stage matches in World Cup 2023, but India might have to play the knockouts with Pandya.
Hardik Pandya had suffered what is now being revealed as a “ligament damage” while bowling during the India vs Bangladesh match in Pune. He flew to the NCA in Bangalore for treatment and missed the New Zealand game last Sunday in Dharamsala.
While earlier it was believed that Hardik Pandya will return for the England clash this Sunday in Lucknow, things have gone worse in the past couple of days as his assessment at the NCA has revealed concerning news. There is a big cloud over his availability for the rest of the tournament.
A BCCI source has told Times Of India that Hardik Pandya will take at least two more weeks to recover, meaning he will certainly miss matches against England, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. India’s last league game against the Netherlands is on November 12 and the semi-final at the Wankhede on November November 15.
Hardik Pandya could take injections and play in knockouts, but risk aggravating injury
Even though Pandya is very important for the team’s balance, and would be ready to play even with taking injections, the medical staff at the NCA won’t release Hardik until they are certain that he’s fit to play.
A BCCI source informed The Times of India: “The medical team under Nitin Patel is monitoring him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. But the injury looks a bit more serious than what was first perceived. It looks like he has suffered a minor ligament tear which usually takes at least two weeks to heal. The NCA will not release him before his injury heals. The medical team has communicated to the team management that they are hopeful of putting him back on the pitch soon. The team doesn’t want to bring in a replacement. It’s ready to wait for Pandya.
“The team is currently comfortably placed in the tournament. Hardik will most likely stay back at NCA to do his rehab rather than travel with the team right now. The current situation is such that a call on Hardik’s involvement for the rest of the tournament will be taken next week. His return to play will have to be carefully charted. His fragile foundation makes the recovery longer than a lot of other players who have greater muscle mass. If need be, he is ready to take injections and play in the business end of the tournament. Anyway, if Hardik isn’t bowling at full tilt, it doesn’t really make such a big difference to the composition.”
If Hardik Pandya is indeed ruled out of the tournament, then Axar Patel is the likely candidate to come in the squad.
