Commonwealth Games 2018 Badminton Mixed Team Final: Why PV Sindhu has not played a single game yet

As expected, the Indian badminton team has been enjoying a stellar run at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. They have easily made it to the finals, losing just one rubber on the way, and they are set to face Malaysia in today's final.

While the likes of Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and others have figured prominently, the absence of World No 3 PV Sindhu has raised a lot of speculation.

Sindhu, who was India's flagbearer at the opening ceremony, suffered an ankle sprain just a few days before heading off to Gold Coast. At that time, her father PV Ramana had confirmed that it was a minor injury and that she would be ready to take the court at the Commonwealth Games.

Sindhu herself had said that she should be fine before the start the Games. Yet, even in the final, Saina has been named in the line-up ahead Sindhu. This led to further speculations. According to her father, though, the reason why Sindhu is yet to feature at the Games is that she is being rested for the upcoming individual events.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Ramana said, "The team management has rested her willingly so that she is fresh and ready for the individual event. She will definitely play on Wednesday. They did not want to take chances and with Saina playing well, there should not be any problems in the final."

Sindhu has been handed a bye in the round of 64 in the women's singles event. In the round of 32, she will meet Andra Whiteside of Fiji on Wednesday. With the kind of form she has been in, the 2014 CWG bronze medallist is a firm favourite to clinch the gold this year. However, we will have to wait and see how well she has recovered.