India’s marquee all-rounder Hardik Pandya is liekly to remian on the sidelines for a few more games, having injured his ankle last week. Hardik, who has already missed the New Zealand clash due to the same injury, is likely to sit out of India’s next two World Cup matches as he is yet to recover, according to a report. Pandya had slipped in his follow-through while playing against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19 and missed the clash against New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22. The Bardoa player had reported to National Cricket Academy on Monday in Bengaluru for injury management.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier suggested that Hardik would travel to Lucknow for India’s next match against England but that no longer seems doable.
“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, important is to give him time to recover,” an NCA source told PTI.
Since India are in a very strong position to make the semifinals, having won all five matches so far, Pandya could easily be rested for the next two matches that will allow him complete recovery before the knock-outs.
“Pandya has suffered a bad sprain but fortunately not a fracture. The BCCI medical team wants to take maximum precaution. He is likely to miss next two to three matches. The team wants him fully fit for the knock-out stage,” added a BCCI source.
India next play against defending champions England on October 29 in Lucknow and take on Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2. Pandya’s absence had created space for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the playing XI against New Zealand. Against, England, Surya and Shami are likely to retain their places in the team.
