Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is
recovering from an ankle injury, is unlikely to return to action before the
team’s World Cup match against the Netherlands on November 12.
Pandya had hurt his left ankle while fielding on his
own bowling in the game against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19.
He missed the games against New Zealand and England
and is set to miss the fixtures against Sri Lanka on Thursday and South Africa
on November 5.
India’s final league match is against Netherlands in
Bengaluru on November 12.
“It is a minor tear. He is recovering well and is
likely to return for the last league game. There is also a possibility that he
straight away plays the semifinal,” said a source in the BCCI.
With six wins in as many games, India are set to
qualify for the semifinals.
To compensate for Pandya’s all-round abilities, the
team was forced to make two changes to the playing eleven. In his absence, the
management is playing with five bowlers with Suryakumar Yadav batting at six in
his place.
With Mohammad Shami in sizzling form, the management
has not missed Pandya the bowler but he remains critical to the team’s balance.
After win over England, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey
had expressed confidence over Pandya’s imminent return. Pandya was recovering
at National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
“The medical team is looking at that and are very much
in touch with Hardik and the NCA (National Cricket Academy) as well. We’re
hoping to get an update in a couple of days,” Mhambrey had said on Sunday.
As per a BCCI media release, Pandya was supposed to
join the team in Lucknow ahead of the England game but he was not with the
squad.
PTI
