Hardik Pandya likely to miss next 2 World Cup games. What does it mean for Team India?

India's allrounder Hardik Pandya is reportedly going to miss the next two ICC World Cup 2023 matches against England (October 29) and Sri Lanka (November 2).

Pandya hasn't fully recovered from the ankle injury he sustained during the game against Bangladesh in Pune. He had already sat out the game against New Zealand due to the injury.

What

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pandya has suffered ligament damage and is set to undergo a fitness test on Thursday before the BCCI medical team determines his return date.

Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma had stated that Pandya's injury was not serious and that he was expected to rejoin the team in Lucknow for the England game.

However, it has now been confirmed that Pandya will not be available for the remaining two games.

Implications for the Indian team

• Hardik Pandya's injury at this critical juncture of the World Cup raises concerns for Rohit Sharma.
• With Pandya out, Sharma will need to make two changes, accommodating Suryakumar Yadav in the team and replacing Shardul Thakur with either Mohammad Shami or Ravichandran Ashwin.
• In the Lucknow game, R. Ashwin is likely to be included in the playing XI as the track there favors spinners, possibly leading to Shami being benched, despite his impressive performance against New Zealand.
• Suryakumar Yadav's role is crucial too, especially as a reliable tail-end batter.
• In the previous match, Yadav was unfortunately run-out on 2 after a miscommunication with Kohli during a run between the wickets.
• Essentially, Rohit Sharma's options are limited, as he must find two players to compensate for Pandya's absence.

Potential return of Hardik

• If Hardik Pandya does make a return, Suryakumar Yadav may have to step down, allowing Shardul Thakur to reclaim his place in the playing XI.
• The decision between Shami and Thakur will be challenging, considering Shami's proven performance compared to Thakur's relatively lackluster performance in this World Cup.
• Hardik Pandya's recovery process is in progress as he undergoes further tests.

Meanwhile, India remains undefeated in the tournament with 5 consecutive wins and holds the top spot on the table with 10 points.

The upcoming matches include a face-off against England on October 29 in Lucknow, followed by a match against Sri Lanka on November 2 at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium.