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Rohit Sharma-led India will take the field on November 19 against Australia in hopes of winning the trophy after a gap of 12 years. But even if India beat Pat Cummins-led Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, one of the players who was part of the squad and played four games in the tournament will not be called a World Champion.
Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury he suffered in the clash against Bangladesh in Pune. Pandya was first ruled out of the game against New Zealand and then the World Cup. Since he is not part of the current World Cup squad, he will not be called a World Champion because he was ruled out of the tournament midway.
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Pandya bowled just three deliveries against Bangladesh when he got injured while trying to stop a boundary with his right leg on the followthrough.
In his absence, India had to make two changes to the playing XI to provide balance to the side when they took on New Zealand. It made the team management include Suryakumar Yadav in place of Pandya and drop Shardul Thakur for Mohammed Shami. The decision turned out to work in India’s favour as Shami has taken 23 wickets from six games. In the semifinal, he registered the best bowling figures of 7/57 against New Zealand.
However, there will be one player in India’s 15-member squad who will be called a World Champion without playing a single game if the hosts triumph on November 19. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has not played a single match and is unlikely to walk into the side for the final clash.
Pandya played four games and took five wickets. He got to bat only once against Australia where he remained unbeaten for 11. Meanwhile, Pandya was in attendance to support India in the semifinal against New Zealand.
Pandya’s injury is likely to keep him on the sidelines after the World Cup as well. He is expected to miss the T20I series against Australia at home followed by the ODI series against South Africa.
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