Hardik Pandya, India’s all-rounder who has played such a key part in balancing the side, is likely to miss at least the next three matches of India’s World Cup campaign, because of the Grade 1 ankle sprain he picked up while fielding in the match against Bangladesh on October 19. Hardik was helped off the field in that match and subsequently went to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore to have the injury assessed. It’s understood that India will not be calling up a replacement and are happy to wait for Hardik to be part of the business end of the tournament.
A Grade 1 sprain involves stretching of the ligament, but no tear. After that Bangladesh game, Rohit Sharma, the India captain, had said the injury was “nothing serious”, but scans revealed some ligament damage. Had the ligament been partially torn – a Grade 2 injury – Hardik would have been ruled out for anywhere between three and six weeks, effectively ending his tournament and necessitating a replacement in the squad. That there has been no such move is a silver lining for Team India and millions of expectant fans.
The BCCI’s initial media release had said that he would report to the NCA and join the team in Lucknow for the match against England on October 29. Hardik reported to the NCA on October 24. Nitin Patel, who heads Sports Science and Management at the NCA, had already assessed Hardik before he arrived at the academy.
He has been advised to complete the rest for now. The ankle is still swollen and tender, and though there is no joint instability, practising bowling is out of the question for another week or more. India are almost assured of a place in the last four, and their next three matches – England (October 29), Sri Lanka (November 2) and South Africa (November 5) are so closely bunched together that Hardik’s return is unlikely before the final league game against the Netherlands in Bangalore on November 12.
In his continued absence, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to continue as a specialist batter, with Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur competing for one spot in the XI. KL Rahul will take over as vice-captain in Hardik’s absence.