[Breaking] Hardik Pandya Set To Miss England Match In Lucknow: Report

India will likely have to once again take the field in the World Cup 2023 without Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder is reportedly set to be ruled out from India’s next game against India in Lucknow.

Table-toppers India will take on England, the defending champions, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow this Sunday, October 29. And it is likely that they will take the field with the same XI that played against New Zealand in Dharamsala as Hardik Pandya is yet to fully recover from the ankle sprain he suffered during the game against Bangladesh in Pune.

Will Hardik Pandya play against England?

It has been reported that with Team India sitting comfortably at the top of the points table, having won all its 5 matches, the management and the NCA staff have decided to give Hardik Pandya more time to recover completely and are not rushing with their star all-rounder.

A BCCI source told News18: “Yes, Hardik is likely to miss the next match vs England in Lucknow. It is more of a precaution at this stage and nothing serious.”

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 three balls of his Pandya’s over.

He was soon taken for scans in Pune itself. Hardik returned to the dressing room but wasn’t needed to bat as Kohli finished the chase with his century. He then flew to Bangalore to get treatment at the NCA.

He was then ruled out of the New Zealand game which India won courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Mohammed Shami and 95 from Kohli. India brought in Suryakumar Yadav and Shami to replace Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur. The same side is expected to play against England.