The return date of India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has allegedly been disclosed. He had already missed India’s 2023 World Cup matches in Dharamsala against New Zealand and Lucknow against England. Due to an ankle injury he sustained in Pune during the league stage match against Bangladesh. Hardik is going to miss the whole league stage and only make a comeback during the knockout stage. If reports about his injury are accurate.
Hardik will not play for India in their upcoming encounter against Bangladesh, but he will re-join the team in Lucknow. According to a BCCI statement following the match. The all-rounder is still receiving rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, but he was unable to recuperate in time. Cricketnext reports that Hardik has made great progress . And has participating in net sessions while being closely monitor by the NCA medical staff.
“Hardik Pandya has already had a couple of net sessions at the NCA. He is under constant supervision of the BCCI medical team and looking good,”. says a source told the website
Why Hardik’s return shouldn’t scare India too much
While the report failed to reveal the exact date of return. Team India is less likely to fret over his absence or rush him back into the XI after two sensational wins in the last two matches.
After Hardik left the team, the main concern was that there is not enough balance in the starting eleven. This led to a discussion about whether India should play a bowler with an extra batter against England. Ultimately, the squad made two changes: Suryakumar Yadav was going to play to counterbalance Hardik’s batting prowess at No. 6,. And Shardul Thakur was rested to create room for Mohammed Shami. Who was brought in to provide a capable third seamer. India was left with just five bowling options, but thanks to the lethal combination of Shami and Japsrit Bumrah, the home team beat the two 2019 finalists handily. Shami, who was in sideline for the first four games, became the most impressive bowler. He took nine wickets in the two matches which included a record five-wicket haul.
“See, no one wants to burden Hardik with travelling at this point. He is already in Bengaluru and could well rejoin the squad there itself. Whether he plays that game or not is too early to say but the Bengaluru link-up is very much on the cards because that game would mean no travel also,” informed the source to Cricketnext.
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