Even though Team India is just one step away from sealing a semi-final spot in the World Cup 2023, the Men In Blue have been handed a major concern as Hardik Pandya is ruled out from action for an indefinite period of time due to his ankle injury, which has now been reported as “ligament damage”.
Hardik Pandya sustained this ankle sprain while bowling during the Bangladesh game in Pune. He tried to stop a straight drive from Litton Das with his foot by instead twisted it. The physio attended him at the ground and then he walked off after hobbling for a bit. Virat Kohli completed the remainder of the three balls of Pandya’s over.
Pandya then flew to Bangalore to get treatment at the NCA. He then missed Sunday’s match against New Zealand in Dharamsala but was expected to return for the England game this Sunday, on October 29, in Lucknow.
Will Hardik Pandya play against England?
Now, not only Hardik Pandya will miss the England clash in Lucknow, but he’s also likely to miss the next two weeks of the tournament, which would mean him missing the Sri Lanka and South Africa matches as well.
India are desperately hoping that Hardik Pandya will be fit for the semi-final, which will be played on November 15/16.
ESPNcricinfo has reported that star all rounder has ‘slight ligament damage’ and that his next fitness test is on Thursday ‘before the BCCI medical team decides on his return date’.
India had to make two changes to replace Hardik Pandya, the seam bowling all-rounders: Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami came in for Pandya and Shardul Thakur. While Shami took a 5-wicket haul, SKY got run out for only 2 runs against New Zealand.
India are likely to go with the same combination against England in Lucknow, but maybe R Ashwin could come in the side because of England’s left-handers. Hardik’s injury had given the management a big headache in terms of balancing the side.
