Team India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to miss the country's upcoming ODI World Cup match against New Zealand on October 22 (Sunday). According to a report in The Indian Express, Hardik will be 'rushed' to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru where a team of BCCI doctors will assess his condition while a specialist doctor will treat the all-rounder's injury. As a result, with just two days to go before India's crunch match against the Kiwis, Hardik looks certain to miss the upcoming contest.
"He will be heading to Bengaluru where he has been asked to report to the NCA. The medical team assessed his ankle scan report and it looks he will be fine by taking an injection. The BCCI consulted a specialist doctor in England and they too were of the similar opinion. He will be missing the next game," The Indian Express quoted a BCCI official as saying.
There is optimism that Hardik will re-join the team in Lucknow and will be available for selector in the game against England, which is scheduled to take place on October 29. So as of now, the star Hardik looks set to miss at least one match.
Hardik Pandya injury
Team India players and its fans wore distressed looks on their faces after Hardik limped off the ground during the ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on October 19 (Thursday). The incident occurred in the 9th over of Bangladesh's innings, which was also Hardik's first over of his spell, when the Indian all-rounder tried to stop the ball with his foot and slipped. While attempting an awkward save, Hardik suffered a painful and scary injury to his left foot.
The Indian players rushed to Hardik, who was seen holding Virat Kohli's hands in order to stand upright. He was seen in visible pain and refrained from putting any weight on his left foot initially. The team physio ran onto the ground from the dressing and attended to Hardik. After a lengthy delay in which heavy strapping was done on Hardik's shin and ankle.
After getting treated on the left foot and ankle, Hardik tried a dummy run-up but looked in agonising pain before deciding to walk off the field in order to obtain further care for the injury. Hardik bowled just three balls and was hit for two consecutive boundaries before he returned to the dressing room.
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