(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who missed the World Cup 2023 match against New Zealand in Dharamsala due to his injury, is all set to make a return to the playing XI in the team’s next match of the tournament.
Pandya suffered an ankle injury while bowling in the World Cup fixture against Bangladesh in Pune last week. During his first over of the day, he twisted his ankle while trying to stop the ball with his foot in the follow-through, causing him to slip in the process. Unfortunately, he had to leave the field after attempting to complete his over as the pain prevented him from continuing.The remaining part of his over was completed by Virat Kohli.
Pandya was then sent for scans and later received specialist treatment from a doctor from London at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
As a precautionary measure, the BCCI and the team management decided not to risk Pandya’s injury, announcing before the match against New Zealand that the all-rounder would not be available for the clash on Sunday. However, it is now clear that Pandya could feature in the game against defending champions England, scheduled on October 29 in Lucknow. A source informed Cricbuzz that Pandya’s injury, which led to his absence from the match against the Black Caps, was “only a sprain” and “nothing serious.”
Speaking of India’s performance against New Zealand in Pandya’s absence, the Men in Blue achieved their fifth consecutive victory in the quadrennial tournament. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India chased down the target of 274 runs in 48 overs and won by four wickets to secure the first position on the points table.