India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss India’s next game against New Zealand in the 2023 Cricket World Cup due to an ankle injury. He will be rushed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he will be treated by a specialist doctor from England and probably administered injections. Pandya is expected to join the Indian team in Lucknow and the team is hopeful he will be available for the game against England.
Pandya sustained the injury during a league game against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on October 19. He was taken for a scan and later joined the team, but he missed the entire game.
The medium pacer had limped off after putting his right foot to stop a drive from Bangladesh’s Liton Das and lost his balance. He dragged his right boot while landing on the pitch and got up in discomfort. The physio rushed onto the field and two senior players, Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, were by his side.
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Play was stopped for nearly five minutes as the physio strapped his ankle. Pandya came back and tried to run, but he started to hobble. It was clear that he would have to go off after bowling just three deliveries, two of which went for fours. The Pune crowd began cheering when Kohli was tasked with bowling the incomplete Hardik over. Kohli conceded just two singles.
🚨 NEWS 🚨
Medical Update: Hardik Pandya 🔽 #CWC23 | #TeamIndiahttps://t.co/yiCbi3ng8u
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2023
Pandya’s skill set at the highest level is vital to the Indian team’s balance. He is an effective bowler with difficult-to-pick-up bouncers and the surprise heavy ball, and he is also a powerful hitter of the ball.
At the post-match presentation ceremony after the win over Bangladesh, Rohit had said that the injury was not a cause of concern. “He (Hardik) pulled up a bit sore, nothing really major to worry about. We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow morning and then plan on how to go forward.”
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However, the BCCI has now decided to send Pandya to the NCA for further treatment and assessment. He is expected to miss at least one game, but the team is hopeful he will be available for the match against England. Pandya’s absence is a blow to India, but the team has a number of other all-rounders who can step up in his place. Shardul Thakur, Deepak Hooda, and Axar Patel are all capable of batting and bowling, and they will be looking to make an impact if Pandya is ruled out of any further matches.
