Cricket World Cup 2023 – Hardik Pandya suffers injury scare against Bangladesh

India had a major injury scare when Hardik Pandya limped off the field with a left ankle injury during their fourth league match of the World Cup against Bangladesh in Pune. Bowling his first over – the ninth of the innings – Pandya appeared to twist his ankle while following through, and it was later announced in the broadcast that he would not return to the field for the rest of the innings.

A physiotherapist immediately ran out to attend to Pandya and worked on his ankle for several minutes. He then tried to continue with it but was in too much pain to do so. At 2.59pm, an hour into the match, Pandya went out for further treatment and Virat Kohli bowled the remaining three deliveries in the final over. The BCCI later said that Pandya will be taken for checks.

Apart from Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, Pandya is arguably the irreplaceable player in India’s squad due to the all-rounder role he plays. He is good enough to play as a specialist batsman but his bowling gives India the sixth leg they desperately need. Pandya had bowled 16 overs in India’s first three matches in the World Cup and took five wickets.

Shardul Thakur, a specialist fast bowler who can bat, has only bowled eight overs in two matches, and Rohit Sharma is favored to go for Pandya ahead of Thakur in this World Cup so far.

India have been cautious about whether Pandya will qualify for the World Cup precisely because of the balance he brings to the team. If he misses a match, India likewise has no alternative. Either Shardul Thakur bats at number seven and they replace Pandya’s bowling or they bring in an extra batter and rely on five bowlers to bowl 10 overs each.

With three wins in three matches, India are one of two unbeaten teams in this World Cup. After Bangladesh, their next match is in Dharamsala on Sunday against New Zealand, who are the only other unbeaten team in the tournament having registered four wins in four matches.