India bowling coach Morne Morkel provided an update on the injury concerns surrounding Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma following India’s win over Sri Lanka. While both players struggled with cramps, Pandya’s condition appears to be more serious, with Morkel stating that he will be assessed a day before the final. Abhishek, on the other hand, is fine.
After bowling the first over, in which he took a wicket, Pandya experienced discomfort in his left hamstring and left the field. The seam-bowling all-rounder did not return for the remainder of the innings. Abhishek, after scoring 61, walked off the field after 9.2 overs in the second innings. The spin-bowling all-rounder, like Pandya, did not return to the field. Both players were treated with ice and pickle juice to relieve the cramps.
“Hardik, I know, we’ll assess tonight and tomorrow morning, and we’ll make a call on that. Abhishek is fine,” Morkel said after India won the Super Over. “Both of them were just struggling with cramps.”
With a short turnaround between India’s last match and the final against Pakistan, there will be no training sessions. According to Morkel, players will instead focus on recovery.
“The key for the boys is to rest,” he said. “They’re in an ice bath already. Recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is to sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully, they can get a good night’s sleep. There will be individual pool sessions organised for the guys, followed by massages, before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training.”
Both Pandya and Abhishek have played important roles in India’s unbeaten run in the tournament so far. India will need both players fit and firing as they eye their ninth Asia Cup title.
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