Indias cricket talent Hardik Pandiya was absent in the India versus New Zealand World Cup 2023 match on October 22 due to an ankle injury he suffered last week. He is further likely to remain on the sideline for the upcoming few more matches as he is yet to recover, according to a report.Pandya sustained the injury while playing against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19 which resulted in him sitting out for the intense match between India and New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22. The Bardoa player had reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Monday in Bengaluru for injury management.ICC World Cup | BCCI tweets, Hardik Pandyas injury is being assessed at the moment and he is being taken for scans.#INDvsBAN(Pic: BCCI) pic.twitter.com/NKk6qoSdMb— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2023Hardik Pandya recoveryWhile the cricketer was earlier supposed to travel to Lucknow for Indias next match against England, it seems unlikely that the player will be a part of the playing 11.Hardik is still under medication. While the swelling on his left ankle has subsided considerably, he will start bowling only towards the weekend. Right now, important is to give him time to recover, an NCA source told PTI.Commenting on Pandyas injury, BCCI said “Pandya has suffered a bad sprain but fortunately not a fracture. The BCCI medical team wants to take maximum precautions. He is likely to miss next two to three matches. The team wants him fully fit for the knock-out stage.”Since India has won all five matches in the ongoing World Cup 2023, the team has a high chances of making it to the semifinals. This can give Pandya enough time to recover from the injury.India next plays against defending champions England on October 29 in Lucknow and takes on Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2. Pandyas absence had created space for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the playing XI against New Zealand. Against, England, Surya and Shami are likely to retain their places in the team.
