Hardik Pandya injury update : Big Oppourtunity for Shami & Surya

Hardik Pandya will miss the match between IND and NZ due to sprained ankle. Rohit Sharma may be forced to make two changes on Sunday.

The Indian cricket team is currently trying their best to play Hardik Pandya. There is no replacement for the all-rounder and as captain Rohit Sharma said, he is not out of the woods yet. With IND vs New Zealand coming up in less than 72 hours, Team India will have to play without Hardik in the crucial match against the league leaders. Although it is bad news in terms of pairings, it could be a good opportunity for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammad Shami. India will have to call both in the Cricket World Cup match between India and New Zealand. Reason? There is no comparable replacement for Hardik Pandya and without the balance that Hardik provides, India needs both a number six batsman and a seamer who can bowl 10 overs. Suryakumar Yadav has joined the team as a substitute at number six and after warming up on the bench, Mohammad Shami might get a chance in the IND vs NZ match at Dharamshala.

Hardik Pandya Injury Update:

Hardik twisted his left ankle while bowling his first over against Bangladesh and that was a big blow. He was taken to the hospital for tests. The reports are awaited, but it is worrying for the Indian cricket team. Pandya was rushed to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where he will be treated by British specialists and given an injection. Pandya will travel to Lucknow with the Indian team and the team is optimistic that he will be available for the match against England. “Hardik was in a bit of pain but there is nothing to worry about. We will see his performance tomorrow morning and plan what will happen next,” Rohit Sharma said after the match.

As long as the top five did the heavy lifting, there was no need for all-rounders to showcase their batting skills. He played as a true third seamer. He took 5 wickets in 3 matches and in the match between the IND and New Zealand, that is even more of a concern. If he twists his ankle, it often takes him three to four days to improve unless there is ligament damage. And in Hardik Pandya’s case, the heavy strap and the way he limped off the ground on Thursday did not inspire confidence. The problem with ankle twists and sprains like this is that fast throwers fear landing after a throw. And in the absence of bowler Pandya, India will have to look for a full-time seamer in Mohammad Shami. Another seamer, Shardul Thakur, cannot be trusted. He has given 59 runs in 9 overs in exchange for a wicket against Bangladesh. And that’s not a good sign. So far, Shardul has been playing in Hardik’s shadow but that’s no longer the case.

IND vs NZ Big Oppourtinity for Shami & SKY

However, if Hardik Pandya is absent, Rohit Sharma will have to make two changes to fill the void. He has to replace bowler Hardik with Mohammad Shami and batsman Hardik with Suryakumar Yadav. Shardul Thakur will not be available for the match between IND and New Zealand and if there is a twist then Ravichandran Ashwin will replace Shami. However, Dharamshala has supported seamers in the past as well and considering the weather, it is unlikely that India will need additional spinners. So, if Hardik is absent, Shami will be the man. New Zealand has a much better batting line-up than Bangladesh and Afghanistan, so if Shardul does not bowl well, he may lose his spot in the match between IND and New Zealand. In this case, SKY would fit in at No. 6 and Shami would be the third player alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

India’s Full Squad for World Cup 2023