Renowned Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, is likely to remain on the sidelines for India’s upcoming World Cup matches due to an ankle injury that sidelined him last week.
Pandya sustained the injury when he slipped in his follow-through during a match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19. Consequently, he was forced to miss the match against New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22. In an effort to manage his injury, the Baroda player reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Monday.
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While there has been a noticeable reduction in the swelling on Pandya’s left ankle, medical professionals are still closely monitoring his recovery. The official from NCA revealed, “Hardik is still under medication. While the swelling on his left ankle has subsided considerably, he will start bowling only towards the weekend. Right now, the most crucial aspect is to give him the time needed for a complete recovery.”
Given India’s strong performance in the tournament so far, winning all five matches, it is likely that Pandya will be rested for the next couple of matches, allowing him sufficient time to recover fully before the knockout stage. According to a BCCI source, “Pandya has suffered a severe sprain but fortunately not a fracture. The BCCI medical team wants to exercise maximum caution. He is expected to miss the next two to three matches to ensure he is in top form for the crucial knockout stage.”
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India’s upcoming matches include a face-off against defending champions England on October 29 in Lucknow and a match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2. Pandya’s absence has provided opportunities for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami to feature in the playing XI in recent matches. His recovery remains a priority for the Indian team as they aim to progress further in the tournament.
