ODI World Cup 2023

Hardik Pandya Unavailable for game against England in ODI World Cup 2023, Suryakumar Yadav set for longer run- Reports

Hosts India have had a magnificent run in the Apex Cricket Council Men’s Cricket World Cup, having won all their five games so far. Most of their wins have been dominant which […]

Oct 25, 2023 6:58 pm

Hosts India have had a magnificent run in the Apex Cricket Council Men’s Cricket World Cup, having won all their five games so far. Most of their wins have been dominant which has made India the team to beat in this edition of the quadrennial event. India had no problems until the game against Bangladesh in which there was a setback in the form of an injury to key all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. Pandya left the field owing to some discomfort which raised the alarm bells.

As it turned out, Pandya sustained a ‘bad sprain’ which eventually kept him out of contention for India’s encounter against New Zealand. Now, news has emerged that Pandya is likely to remain on the sidelines for two more games. The 30-year-old is currently receiving treatment at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The latest development is that the swelling in his ankle has healed but he is yet to gain substantial fitness to roll his arm over.

Initially, the Indian Cricket Board had indicated Pandya’s availability for the England match in Lucknow, but that now seems unlikely. Pandya’s all-around prowess is a cornerstone of India’s World Cup aspirations, as his presence lends balance to the side and provides skipper Rohit Sharma with a wealth of tactical options. His availability for the business end of the tournament could prove pivotal in India’s quest to break their decade-long Apex Cricket Council trophy drought.

SKY all set to get a long run

“Pandya has suffered a bad sprain but fortunately not a fracture. The Indian Cricket Board medical team wants to take maximum precautions. He is likely to miss the next two to three matches. The team wants him fully fit for the knock-out stage,” an Indian Cricket Board source told PTI.

In Pandya’s temporary absence, Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami stepped up to fill the void against New Zealand. While Suryakumar’s innings were cut short by an unfortunate run-out, Shami shone brightly, claiming a well-deserved ‘Man of the Match’ award for his fiery spell. Both players are likely to retain their spots in the upcoming clashes against England in Lucknow on October 29 and Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2.