Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India’s upcoming World Cup 2023 fixture against New Zealand to be held in Dharamsala due to an ankle injury. The all-rounder immediately left the field after hurting his left ankle in the ninth over of the India vs Bangladesh clash held in Oune on 21st October. Immediately after the incident, the all-rounder was taken for scans & the reports were awaited.
But ending everyone’s speculation, reports of Hardik Pandya are finally here. And as per the reports Hardik couldn’t play in India’s next fixture against New Zealand.
“Unfortunately Hardik will not take the flight to Dharamsala with the team on 20th October & will join the team directly in Lucknow where India will take on England,” BCCI revealed in an Official Press Release.
The board further said that Hardik has been advised to rest & will be under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. He will be assessed again & will make a return in India’s fixture against England on October 29 just seven days after New Zealand Match.
When did Hardik Pandya encounter an Injury?
Pandya injured himself during the ninth over of Bangladesh’s innings when he was trying to field a ball in his follow-through. At that moment he appeared to have twisted his ankle. Immediately after the incident Hardik was taken for scans & didn’t participate further in the fixture. After the post-match presentation, Rohit Sharma provided an update on Hardik’s injury.
He said that there is no severe damage which is a good thing for the team. But an injury of that nature needs to be assessed every day. So the team is hoping that he pulls up well tomorrow morning & stays available for the India vs New Zealand fixture. He also emphasized that as a team they will do whatever is required by them to do.
Apart from Bumrah & Kuldeep, Pandya is unarguably the most irreplaceable player in India’s squad because of his all-round capabilities. He is not only proficient with the bat but his bowling provides the much-needed sixth bowling option to India which they badly need. Pandya has bowled 16 overs in India’s first three World Cup matches and taken five wickets.
At the moment, there is no like-for-like replacement available for Hardik for the India vs New Zealand clash. India will have to change their combination against New Zealand. They can either bring in Suryakumar Yadav for Pandya & Mohammed Shami for Shardul Thakur. However, it will then leave the Indian team with just five specialist bowlers in the lineup. Rohit Sharma & Co has not given a thought to it & will try to figure out things with a crucial match against New Zealand in the picture. So far, India has won all their four matches in the ODI World Cup 2023 & is lagging at the second spot on the Points table. Only NRR separates them & New Zealand on the Points Table. The fixture will truly be the ‘Clash of Titans’ with both teams aiming to rule the World Cup Points Table.
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