World Cup 2023: India’s Likely Playing XI For The Match Against England

Team India is riding a wave of success, securing victory in five consecutive matches, as they gear up for their sixth match of the World Cup 2023. This exciting clash is set to take place on Sunday, October 29, at the prestigious Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team, after a brief two-day break, will transition from Dharamshala to Lucknow in high spirits, with the hope of maintaining their winning streak.

One of the most significant talking points in the lead-up to this match is the anticipated return of Hardik Pandya. However, his role in the upcoming game may differ from his usual all-rounder status due to an ongoing injury. Hardik’s absence was felt keenly in the match against New Zealand, where he couldn’t participate due to injury.

Presently, Hardik is receiving treatment at the National Cricket Academy. A senior BCCI official provided insight into his condition, stating, “Hardik is under the supervision of NCA. This is not a matter of concern. He just has a sprain, and we are hoping that he will recover by Wednesday or Thursday. He is also very useful as a batsman. Whether he will be able to bowl at regular pace or not will depend on the conditions.”

In Hardik’s absence, Team India made two significant changes for the match against New Zealand. Suryakumar Yadav was brought in to fill the gap left by Hardik, while pacer Shardul Thakur was replaced by Mohammed Shami. As we look ahead to the match against England, a critical question lingers: who will be dropped from the playing eleven once Hardik returns?

Mohammed Shami made his case by impressing the management with a stellar performance, taking five wickets in his very first World Cup match. The competition for a spot in the playing eleven is heating up, making the decision a challenging one for the team management.

The upcoming match is scheduled to be played in Lucknow, a venue known for favoring spinners. In such conditions, it’s almost certain that Ravichandran Ashwin will make the cut. If Hardik Pandya becomes fit, he may replace Suryakumar Yadav and feature as a specialist batsman. Team India’s preference is to go with only three spinners on the Lucknow pitch.

This scenario potentially places pacer Mohammad Shami on the bench, as Ashwin could replace him. The final composition of the playing eleven is eagerly anticipated, and it will largely depend on whether Hardik is fit to participate. Regardless of this factor, Ashwin’s presence in the lineup seems nearly assured.