Hardik Pandya is very likely to miss team’s next 2023 World Cup fixture vs New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22. The all-rounder hurt his left ankle while bowling his first over during the match vs Bangladesh in Pune on October 19.
It is learnt that the 30-year-old will be visiting the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for further assessment while rest of his teammates will board a private charter to Dharamsala today.
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“Yes, Hardik Pandya is unlikely for the next game and he will undergo further assessment and consultation at the NCA,” says a BCCI official.
Pandya received attention by the physio moments after hurting his ankle on the field but looked in pain while he tried a mock run-up post treatment. Even the strapping on the left ankle didn’t ease the pain and he had no option but to limp off the field in the ninth over – his first – of the innings.
The all-rounder was then taken for scans at a nearby hospital in Pune but returned to the ground and was spotted sitting and chatting in the dressing room with coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma.
With very little gap between the Pune and Dharamsala, it is further learnt that management is not keen to risk the all-rounder at this stage of the tournament. The Indian cricket team has a long gap between the New Zealand game and England fixture in Lucknow and it would allow enough time to Pandya to be back on the park.
At the post-match presentation, Rohit sounded optimistic and said Hardik “pulled up a bit sore”.
“He pulled up a bit sore, nothing really major to worry about. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow morning and then plan how to go forward.”
The official word from the camp remained that they are awaiting results of the scans and will update moment it comes.
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