
Hardik Pandya, the fast-bowling all-rounder and India’s vice-captain, will not accompany the team to Dharamshala for their upcoming match against New Zealand, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday. This decision is due to a left ankle injury Pandya sustained during India’s fourth league match in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup against Bangladesh at MCA Stadium in Pune.
Pandya had to leave the field after injuring his left ankle while fielding on his own bowling during the match and did not participate further. The BCCI reported, “The all-rounder was taken for scans and is advised rest. He will be under the constant supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.”
The update also mentioned that Pandya will rejoin the Indian team directly in Lucknow for their match against the defending champions, England, scheduled for October 29. The injury occurred when Pandya attempted to stop a boundary hit by Litton Das during the ninth over of the game in Pune. He appeared to twist his left ankle while slipping during the effort to save the four.
The Indian team physio promptly attended to Pandya’s left ankle for several minutes, with Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma by his side. Despite his efforts to continue bowling, Pandya couldn’t do so due to the pain in his strapped left ankle and had to leave the field for further treatment.
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Pandya is a crucial component of India’s white-ball cricket squad due to his all-round abilities, as he bats in the top six and serves as the third fast-bowling option. Before the ankle injury, he had taken five wickets in the tournament, although he batted only once, remaining unbeaten with 11 runs in India’s opening win against Australia in Chennai.
With Pandya sidelined for the match against New Zealand, India faces a challenge in covering the unique skills he provides. While Shardul Thakur offers a fast-bowling all-round option, he isn’t a direct replacement for Pandya. One possibility is for Thakur to play a dual role with both bat and ball or to include a specialist batter in Pandya’s absence while operating with only five bowlers during their bowling innings. Alternatively, India could opt to bring in a specialist batter and bowler, leaving out Thakur.
India remains undefeated in the ongoing Men’s ODI World Cup with four wins in as many matches. The host nation is one of only two teams, alongside New Zealand, yet to face defeat in the tournament. They are set to meet New Zealand in their upcoming fixture.