Hardik Pandya, the fast-bowling all-rounder and Indian vice-captain, is likely to miss the team's next two ICC Men's Cricket World Cup matches, as he is still recovering from the ankle injury he sustained during the match against Bangladesh in Pune on 19 October.
India is scheduled to take on defending champions England on 29 October in Lucknow and will next play Sri Lanka on 2 November in Mumbai.
The BCCI had earlier issued a press statement saying Pandya would miss the game against Bangladesh on Sunday but would join the team in Lucknow for the England clash. However, the 30-year-old seems to be given more time to fully recover, specially with India being unbeaten in the tournament so far.
'Team India vice-captain Hardik Pandya sustained an injury to his left ankle while fielding on his own bowling during India’s match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. He will not be taking the flight to Dharamsala with the team on 20th October and will now join the team directly in Lucknow where India play England,' the BCCI's statement had read.
According to an Indian Express report, the fast-bowling allrounder will be available for the last two league matches against South Africa (5 November), and Netherlands (12 November) as the medical team will wait for a few more days to let him recover at the NCA.
The team management doesn’t want to rush the all-rounder as they want a completely fit Pandya for the semifinals.
The 30-year-old limped off the field after injuring his left ankle while fielding on his own bowling during India’s fourth league match of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, against Bangladesh at MCA Stadium in Pune, and did not participate in the rest of the match.
As a result, he didn't join the team in Dharamshala for the clash against New Zealand on October 22 and was rushed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to be treated by a specialist doctor with the required injections.
With five wins in as many matches, hosts India are the only team to be still unbeaten in the ongoing Men’s ODI World Cup. The two-time champions will next face England, who need a huge turnaround with must win at least four and possibly all five of their remaining matches if they are to reach the knockout stages.
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