Hardik Pandya won’t play IND vs NZ World Cup clash

Hardik Pandya is expected to sit out of India’s upcoming 2023 World Cup match against New Zealand in Dharamsala. He sustained an ankle injury while attempting to stop a ball with his foot during bowling. The cricketer will be quickly transported to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where specialized doctors from England will provide treatment, including injections. After a 7-day break following Sunday’s game, Pandya is likely to be fit for India’s match against England in Lucknow on October 29, as per a report in The Indian Express.

Hardik Pandya Injured: Set to Miss Upcoming Game After Ankle Twist

“He will be heading to Bengaluru where he has been asked to report to the NCA. The medical team assessed his ankle scan report and it looks like he will be fine by taking an injection. The BCCI consulted a specialist doctor in England and they too were of a similar opinion. He will be missing the next game,” IE quoted a BCCI official as saying.

Hardik looked in excruciating pain while twisting his left ankle in an attempt to stop a straight drive from Litton Das during India’s game against Bangladesh on Thursday. He immediately fell on the ground and favored the ankle. It required assistance from Virat Kohli to help Hardik get back on his feet but following a few steps, his ankle gave up. The BCCI physio rushed to the ground and attended to Hardik for several minutes, It took a bit of magic spray and some extensive taping to get him back up but as soon as Hardik practiced his run-up, the discomfort and the grimace on his face returned. After a brief discussion with Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik hobbled off the field and did not return.

Replacement player will be chosen

Without Hardik, the entire balance of the team seems to go for a toss. In his absence, India will have two options to consider – either play an extra bowler/batter or include both. The toss-up between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan will likely drop in SKY’s favor as he proved his ODI batting prowess against Australia last month by peeling off back-to-back fifties from No. 6.

With Ravindra Jadeja to follow at 7, India must pick between retaining Shardul Thakur or giving Mohammed Shami a game. Shardul, known for his knack of breaking partnerships, hasn’t discovered his penchant yet this World Cup, with figures of 1/31, 0/12, and 1/59, and considering the seaming conditions in the high altitude of Dharamsala, Shami should be an automatic shoo-in.