India Vs England ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Huge Blow For Team India, Hardik Pandya Ruled Out Of Lucknow Match But Ravichandran Ashwin May Return

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya had twisted his ankle in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh in Pune last week.

India's Hardik Pandya after twisting his ankle in the World Cup 2023 match against England. (Photo: AP)

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s injury has proven to be more serious than initially assumed. Pandya had twisted his ankle while bowling against Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match at the MCA Stadium in Pune last week.

The Gujarat Titans captain didn’t travel with the Indian team to Dharamsala for their fifth match against New Zealand and was expected to make a comeback for the match against defending world champions England at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday. However, it has now been reported that Pandya’s comeback into the side could be pushed back further.

According to a report in the News18 website, Pandya is unlikely to feature in the side for India’s sixth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Lucknow. “Yes, Hardik is likely to miss the next match vs England in Lucknow. It is more of a precaution at this stage and nothing serious,” a BCCI official tells News18’s CricketNext website.

Hardik Pandya is likely to miss in the match against England in this World Cup. (To News18) pic.twitter.com/7IGSDou6oH — CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 24, 2023

Another website reported that Pandya is under NCA’s observation currently. “Hardik is under the NCA’s observation. It is not a concern. He only had a sprain and we are hopeful he will be fit by Wednesday or Thursday. Even as a batter he is too valuable. Whether he can bowl at a regular pace will depend on his condition,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport website.

If Pandya doesn’t recover from injury and is unable to play even as a batter, then Suryakumar Yadav is likely to hold on to his place in the Playing 11. ‘Sky’ was unfortunate to get run-out in India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in Dharamsala last Sunday.

With the pitch at the Ekana Stadium more conducive to the slower bowlers as it showed during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be back in contention for a return to the side after playing the first game of the World Cup 2023 against Australia in Chennai.

From the second game onwards, Ashwin was replaced by pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. If Ashwin does get to play in Lucknow, he will in all likelihood replace Mohammed Siraj, who has been struggling to pick up wickets in World Cup 2023 after being India’s best bowler in the Asia Cup 2023 title win. Siraj has picked up 6 wickets in 5 matches so far at an average of 42.83.