Team India’s unbeaten World Cup 2023 campaign on Saturday (November 4) received a massive jolt as ankle injury ruled Hardik Pandya out of the remainder of the tournament.
The all-rounder sustained the injury while fielding during India’s match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19. Since then, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at NCA but failed to recover in time to be a part of the remaining campaign.
The hosts will certainly miss the services of Hardik as he provides the sixth bowling option apart from being a dashing hitter lower down the order.
In his absence, India went with five specialist bowlers in the last three games against New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka. While Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammad Shami formed the pace attack, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja were the two spinners in the playing XI.
On the eve of India’s match against South Africa in Kolkata on November 5, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed a press conference, where he was asked whether the team has been fretting over the absence of an extra bowling option after Hardik was ruled out.
In reply, Dravid dropped a subtle Virat Kohli mention, revealing that the star batter was close to bowling in the last game as well.
"Yes, we don't have the option to have a sixth proper bowler but we have a wrong-footed inswinger menace whom we can back for a couple of overs. He was close to doing so in the last game with the crowd pushing him to do so. The response of the team and the players have been really good," Dravid told reporters.
Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, Virat Kohli has been in terrific form with the bat in this World Cup, amassing 442 runs from seven innings at an average of 88.40, including one hundred and four half-centuries.
Kohli is only one hundred away from equalling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's astonishing record of 49 tons in ODI cricket. He will be playing against South Africa on his 35th birthday.
However, Dravid made it clear that Kohli isn’t thinking about personal milestones and is totally focused on his role in the Indian line-up.
"Virat has been really relaxed and keen to do what he has been doing for India. I have seen nothing different in how Virat goes about his business, not worried about his 49th or 50th or his birthday," the Indian coach said.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who recently returned to action after a year-long injury hiatus, has been approved as Pandya's replacement by the tournament's Event Technical Committee.
Krishna is available for selection for Sunday’s match against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
