India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was recently ruled out of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 after he injured his left ankle in a match against Bangladesh in Pune. Pandya was trying to stop a ball on his follow-through and rolled his ankle.
Though he tried to walk a bit to continue his over, the pain was too much for him and he was helped off the field. He didn’t return to field and then missed a few matches, while he went to NCA for rehab.
Later, it was announced by the BCCI that Hardik Pandya would no longer feature in the remainder of World Cup 2023 and named Prasidh Krishna as his replacement. India has won all seven of their matches thus far in the tournament.
Now as per a report in Indian Express, Hardik Pandya was asked to bowl in the nets at the NCA and was advised by strength and conditioning coaches to increase his speed slowly. As he was coming after injury, the support staff didn’t want him to put too much pressure on his ankle.
Pandya reportedly bowled the first three balls without issue. He decided to increase the intensity of his bowling for the next delivery. It was during the fourth ball he felt a bit of pain in his leg.
Pandya informed the support staff about the pain he felt in his right ankle. He ran and bowled the fifth ball with 80% of intensity but the pain increased. The NCA team then decided to do another round of scans on Pandya’s ankle.
“The result showed that his bone still has swelling and it will take a few more weeks. It was then that the BCCI informed the Indian team management and selection committee to pick a replacement,” a BCCI official told Indian Express.
The tournament’s Event Technical Committee has approved seamer Krishna as Pandya’s replacement. The 27-year-old, Krishna, who has made a comeback after a long injury layoff has played 17 ODIs for India and has bagged 29 wickets.
