Ahead of India’s World Cup clash against England, the Indian team has suffered a massive blow. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who pulled off an injury against Bangladesh, is likely to miss some more games. Pandya, who missed the last game against New Zealand, is yet to be fit for the match.
According to the latest news reports, Pandya has pulled off a ligament injury, which might force him out of action for at least two more weeks. This means Pandya will not be available for selection until November 5th. Till then, the Indian team would have played eight out of nine league games. Considering these factors, team management is looking for a solution, as Pandya is very important for the team’s balance.
A source close to the Indian Cricket Board spoke about Hardik Pandya’s injury to the Times of India. The media house revealed that despite Pandya’s participation in Jeopardy, the team is looking to wait for him to recover. “The medical team under Nitin Patel is monitoring him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. But the injury looks a bit more serious than what was first perceived” a source quoted by TOI
“Team management doesn’t want Hardik Pandya’s replacement”, says the source
Further speaking about replacement options, the source revealed that team management is not willing to call a replacement as they want Pandya to be available for later stages of the tournament. “It looks like he has suffered a minor ligament tear, which usually takes at least two weeks to heal. The NCA will not release him before his injury heals. The medical team has communicated to the team management that they are hopeful of putting him back on the pitch soon. However, the team doesn’t want to bring in a replacement. It’s ready to wait for Pandya”, an Indian Cricket Board source quoted by TOI
It is worth noting that in the next three games, the Indian team will be playing against two big teams, i.e., England and South Africa. The team will face defending champions England at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on October 29. In their next game, Rohit Sharma and company will face Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 2. Three days later, the team will reach the eastern side of the country to face South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on October 5.
Here is how fans react to Hardik Pandya’s injury concerns:
I feel today’s players are very fragile. I mean, I never heard of so many injuries during the time of Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj. And here he slips once, and its a ligament tear, out for 4 games.
He needs to understand that India needs him, especially against SA. If he is not there,…— Kushagra Wadhwa (@Kushagraw12) October 26, 2023
For Team Balance Pandya is needed . Get well soon .
— Rainbow Salt (@Rainbowsalts91) October 26, 2023
Bad news for India .
Please save india God. pic.twitter.com/kBUNJR8NFx— Sports With Bros (@brosswb) October 26, 2023
waise toh dukhad ghatna hai.. wishing him speedy recovery
lekin WC ke lihaz se zyada farq nahin padega, Surya Shami combination is far better than shardul pandya
— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) October 26, 2023
Chalo semifinal takk fit ho jaye bass ??
— Shubham Sakhuja (@ishubhamsakhuja) October 26, 2023
We will anyways qualify for SF easily. Hope he gets fit by then ?
— Pradeep (@pk_rsy) October 26, 2023
Bangla se khelte hi injuries hote hi hai
ROHIT – IN BILATERAL last year
Axar – in asia cup
Hardik – world cup— §??€ (@berlin2okyo) October 26, 2023
Surya after knowing this newspic.twitter.com/1sFYmQuFdG
— Introvert //????? (@introvert_hu_ji) October 26, 2023
Ligament Tear !!! … How is he going to be fit in next 20 days to play cricket. Looks like we have seen last of pandya in this wc
— Cricket Guruji ? (@CricketGuruji6) October 26, 2023
