It appears that someone has cast an evil eye on Hardik Pandya. The Indian vice-captain did not travel to Dharamsala for Sunday’s headbanger’s ball against New Zealand, a high-profile clash between the only two teams still unbeaten in the ICC World Cup.
On Friday, the BCCI came out with its medical bulletin, ruling out the Gujarat Titans captain, who had injured his ankle while bowling against Bangladesh in Pune. “He will not be taking the flight to Dharamsala with the team on 20th October and will now join the team directly in Lucknow where India plays England,” the BCCI update said. “He is advised to rest and will be under the constant supervision of the BCCI medical team.”
Pandya had undergone an MRI scan on Thursday itself and skipper Rohit Sharma had spoken about it after the match, where he said: “Pandya had pulled up a bit sore.”
Given India’s bull run in the World Cup till now – four wins in four matches at four different venues – one could easily say that losing one match would not be a big deal. But the Men in Blue are on a mission, and that is to keep winning. Weather-wise, Dharamsala is very enticing. It’s early winter, and showers could be there off and on. In such conditions, Pandya would have been a very useful player. These days, when Team India hits top gear, it’s Pandya who often provides the explosive impetus.
What value he brings to the side can be measured from his all-round ability, being a decent enough batter to get into the playing XI on those skills alone. That he chips in with the white ball and more than makes up as the sixth bowler is a bonus.
A macro view on Pandya also takes in how he is being groomed for the leadership role in Indian cricket. After his rocking exploits in two seasons of the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Titans, Pandya has been entrusted with India’s T20 captaincy. After hurting his back two years ago, Pandya had to miss a fair amount of cricket. His surgery, rehab and return had left a few wondering if he could ever attain full fitness. At first, he tested his back while bowling four overs, both in the IPL and T20 internationals.
In the absence of a quality pace-bowling all-rounder, always a rarity, the team management got a clear hint that Pandya can go full tilt in the ODIs as well. This is where he brings value, with top-class fielding and as a leader who is accepted by the seniors and juniors, in addition to his great skill set. As with most special players, he is able to impose his personality on a game.
Pandya’s leadership of the India team in the shortest format was clearly with an eye on the T20 World Cup next year in the USA and the West Indies. Results in the Caribbean recently may have been mixed, but there is no doubting the thought process of the BCCI think-tank.
T20 needs younger leaders and players, which is why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are no longer in the frame.
Given the sheer volume of cricket being played, there is a chance that the BCCI could have rested Pandya or Jasprit Bumrah for a match, if needed. But they wouldn’t have wanted that to happen courtesy of a key player sustaining an injury.
Luckily, Pandya is not heavily built, so the ankle injury should heal soon, and he will fly to Lucknow for the match against England on October 29. These days, the support staff, which includes the medical experts on board plus physios and trainers, do a wonderful of keeping the players fit.
For Shubman Gill to return from dengue and score a half-ton on Thursday was a sign of how well he has been handled. Likewise, there is hope that Pandya will be fully fit soon. It was good that the team management took him off the ground at the earliest so that there was no further damage. Not having to travel will make it easier for him to take in more rehab sessions. That seems to be the plan right now for India’s future white-ball leader.