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India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to miss the upcoming two World Cup games due to an unresolved ankle injury sustained during the match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19, causing him to skip the game against New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22, which India won by four wickets.
On Monday, Pandya reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to address his injury concerns
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An insider told Sports Tak, "Sprain is there and he hasn't started bowling. He might also miss Kolkata as well but as of now it looks like two games are tough for him"
Given India's dominant performance, winning all five matches, there's a possibility of resting Pandya for the subsequent two games. This would ensure he's in optimal condition for the crucial knock-out stages.
"While Pandya has endured a severe sprain, thankfully, it's not a fracture. The BCCI medical team is proceeding with utmost caution. He's anticipated to be out for the next two or three matches. The primary objective is to have him fully prepared for the knock-out rounds," reports PTI.
India's upcoming matches include a game against reigning champions England in Lucknow on October 29 and a face-off with Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2. In Pandya's absence, Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami were included in the line-up against New Zealand.
During the game between India and Bangladesh, Hardik faced an unfortunate mishap. Trying to stop the ball with his foot, he slipped, injuring his left foot. Teammates, including Virat Kohli, were quick to his aid. After a brief pause, the on-site physio attended to Hardik, securing his shin and ankle with substantial strapping.
Post the incident, Hardik was immediately sent to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for a thorough assessment. The BCCI medical team, along with a specialist, examined him. It's expected that Hardik will be back with the team for their upcoming match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
In the game against New Zealand, Captain Rohit Sharma brought in Mohammed Shami and favoured Suryakumar Yadav's batting skills, leaving out Shardul Thakur. Even though Suryakumar's innings was cut short by a run-out, Shami and the rest of the team showcased commendable gameplay.
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