Hardik Pandya suspected to have a Grade 1 ligament tear, could miss next few 2023 World Cup games: Reports 

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is suspected to have suffered a Grade 1 ligament tear in his ankle, which he hurt while trying to stop a ball in the follow-through with his leg in the match against Bangladesh. While he is almost certain to miss India’s 2023 World Cup match against England in Lucknow on Sunday, Pandya could be out of the subsequent few games as well.

The 30-year-old has been an integral part of India’s 2023 World Cup squad. He has bowled some crucial overs, picking up key wickets. Significantly, his availability had allowed the Men in Blue the flexibility of six bowling options.

According to a report in the Times of India, the Indian team is against rushing Pandya back into action. A BCCI source was quoted as saying by the daily:

"The medical team under Nitin Patel is monitoring him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. But the injury looks a bit more serious than what was first perceived. It looks like he has suffered a minor ligament tear whichusually takes at least two weeks to heal. The NCA will not release him before his injury heals. The medical team has communicated to the team management that they are hopeful of putting him back on the pitch soon.”

The newspaper also quoted the source as saying that India are not looking for a replacement player as of now and will wait for Pandya.

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India’s team combination without Hardik Pandya in the 2023 World Cup

After Pandya was ruled out of the 2023 World Cup match against New Zealand in Dharamsala, Team India brought in Suryakumar Yadav as his replacement.

Also, all-rounder Shardul Thakur was dropped from the playing XI, and seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami was included in his place. Thakur’s exclusion and Pandya’s unavailability meant that India went in with only five frontline bowling options for the game against the Kiwis.

Shami’s inclusion proved to be a massive plus for the team as he claimed a brilliant five-fer in his first match of the 2023 World Cup and was named Player of the Match as India registered a four-wicket win. On the other hand, Suryakumar could not make much of an impression. He was run out for 2, following a mix-up with Virat Kohli.

According to some reports, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be included in the Indian playing XI for the match against England.