The Indian fans were given a massive injury scare to star all-rounder Hardik Pandya when the all-rounder left the field during the first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede, after what seemed like an ankle strain initially that he’d sustained while taking a catch.
In the 15th over of Sri Lanka’s chase, Pandya tracked back from mid-on and took the catch of Wanindu Hasaranga, off Shivam Mavi’s bowling. His foot turned on the ground, but Pandya still managed to complete the catch.
After taking the catch, Pandya grimaces in pain, clutching his leg, and soon left the field, handing the interim captaincy duties to his deputy, Suryakumar Yadav.
Pandya did return to the field and led the side to a thrilling 2-run victory, but the fact that he didn’t bowl the last over, when Sri Lanka needed 13 runs and he’d one over left in his quota, and gave it to the spinner Axar Patel, made everyone wonder whether Pandya’s injury is serious and would it keep him out of the 2nd T20I, slated for Thursday in Pune.
Will Hardik Pandya be fit for the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka?
Yes, Hardik Pandya is most likely to lead the side as, he said, it was “just cramps” that troubled him in the first game.
After the match, speaking at the post-match presentation, Hardik Pandya said that he was fine and just had some cramps. This will give plenty of relief to the Indian fans.
“It is just cramps. Now I have tendency to scare people but if I am smiling then everything is fine. I did not sleep well, did not drink enough water and hence the glutes were stiff,” Pandya had said.
While Pandya will play in the second T20I, the chances of Sanju Samson taking the field on Thursday are slim because he has a “niggle on his knee and has not traveled with the Indian team to Pune,” and stayed back in Mumbai for scans. Samson, who scored 5 runs, got a hit on his knee when attempting to take a catch in the first over. Although he fielded for the rest of the game, “he later experienced swelling because of which he was asked to take medical advice,” Cricbuzz said. If Samson is not able to make it to the game, Rahul Tripathi could get his T20I debut cap.
Arshdeep Singh, meanwhile, is reported to be fit after missing the first T20I due to illness. He could replace either Harshal Patel or Chahal.
