There’s some uncertainty surrounding all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s ability to play in India’s upcoming matches due to an ankle injury. This could mean that India might have to face off against world champions England on October 29 in Lucknow without him. A source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suggested that Pandya might also miss the next two or three matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pandya injured his ankle while bowling against Bangladesh and has since been under the care of the BCCI’s doctors at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He was sent for scans following the injury.
India, the host nation for the World Cup 2023, has been on a winning streak, claiming victory in all five matches so far. They’re the only team that remains undefeated and is already on track for the semi-finals.
Given their strong position, India could afford to let Pandya sit out the next two games. This would give him ample time to fully recover before the knock-out round begins.
A source from the BCCI told news agency PTI, “Hardik is still under medication. The swelling on his left ankle has reduced significantly, but he won’t start bowling until the weekend. Right now, it’s important to give him time to recover.”
“Pandya has a severe sprain, but luckily, it’s not a fracture,” said a source from the BCCI. “The BCCI medical team is taking all possible precautions. He’s expected to miss the next two to three matches. The team wants him in top shape for the knock-out stage.”
After the match against Bangladesh, India’s captain Rohit Sharma assured that there was “no major damage” to Pandya. However, Pandya did sit out during India’s game against New Zealand.
To compensate for Pandya’s absence, India brought in Suryakumar Yadav and replaced Shardul Thakur with Mohammed Shami for the New Zealand match.
While Virat Kohli ran two runs with Suryakumar, Shami, in his first game of World Cup 2023, bowled an impressive spell and became the first Indian bowler to take two five-wicket hauls in a 50-over World Cup.
Considering the Lucknow pitch might favor spinners, India might consider bringing in Ravichandran Ashwin instead of Shami. This would also add some extra batting depth.
Currently, India leads the World Cup 2023 table with 10 points.
After the game against England, India is set to face Sri Lanka on November 2 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.