Hardik Pandya To Miss World Cup Matches Vs Sri Lanka, South Africa

India’s all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, is expected to miss two more World Cup matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa as he continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained during the game against Bangladesh.

Pandya hasn’t played since October 19, and it’s unlikely that India will rush his return, possibly waiting until the final game of the league stages against Netherlands on November 12.

The injury occurred when Pandya was bowling against Bangladesh in Pune, and he appeared to twist his ankle while trying to stop a shot with his right foot during his follow-through.

After being taken for scans, he was ruled out of the next match against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Although he was expected to rejoin the team for the game against England on October 29 in Lucknow, he was unable to do so due to a ligament injury.

ALSO READ || In Question Shreyas Iyer Puts in Hard Work At Nets, Rohit, Virat Kohli Skip Training

Pandya has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and is expected to take his time with the recovery process.

To compensate for his all-round abilities, India played Suryakumar Yadav and replaced Shardul Thakur with Mohammed Shami against New Zealand. India’s decision paid off as Shami, in his first World Cup match, picked up five wickets to help restrict New Zealand to under 300.

Currently leading the points table and the only undefeated team in the tournament with six wins from as many matches, India is set to face Sri Lanka on November 2 in Mumbai, followed by a game against South Africa in Kolkata. The league stages will conclude with a match against Netherlands in Bengaluru.

ALSO READ || World Cup 2023: Why India Isn’t In The Cricket World Cup Semifinals Yet