The Indian team management and Rohit Sharma would be looking to reconsider their strategy for the Indian team’s balance of the World Cup campaign after learning that Hardik Pandya’s availability for all the remaining matches is uncertain, as he’s suffering from a Grade 1 ligament tear.
According to reports in TOI, Hardik Pandya may be suffering from a Grade 1 ligament tear in his ankle while attempting to field off his bowling during the Bangladesh encounter.
According to different sources, it is learned that the team Indian management is not looking to rush his return to the team, as they want to give Hardik Pandya enough time to recover from the ankle injury.
According to sources, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is being monitored by Nitin Patel’s medical team at the National Cricket Academy. The team has decided not to take any risks until he has fully recovered from his injury.
“The medical team under Nitin Patel is monitoring him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. But the injury looks a bit more serious than what was first perceived. It looks like he has suffered a minor ligament tear which usually takes at least two weeks to heal.
“The NCA will not release him before his injury heals. The medical team has communicated to the team management that they are hopeful of putting him back on the pitch soon,” a BCCI source said ToI.
The Indian team has also expressed their reluctance to rush him back into the squad. As a result, it is unlikely that Hardik Pandya will be available for India’s next game against England on October 29. The Indian team arrived in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Hardik’s availability for the upcoming matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa also remains uncertain. Throughout his career, Hardik has been prone to injuries, which has left him and team management disappointed.
“The team is currently comfortably placed in the tournament. Hardik will most likely stay back at NCA to do his rehab rather than travel with the team right now. The current situation is such that a call on Hardik’s involvement for the rest of the tournament will be taken next week. His return to play will have to be carefully charted”.
“His fragile foundation makes the recovery longer than a lot of other players who have greater muscle mass. If need be, he is ready to take injections and play in the business end of the tournament. Anyway, if Hardik isn’t bowling at full tilt, it doesn’t really make such a big difference to the composition,” the source added.
The 30-year-old was originally anticipated to be ready and fit to play for England in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29, but more recent reports suggest that he will take it easy.
The Indian team management appears hesitant to risk the health of their best all-round player, who can be crucial to the team’s chance in the knockout stages of the tournament.