India’s ever-reliant all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an injury during the match against Bangladesh on Thursday and will miss the next match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against New Zealand on Sunday. “He will not take the flight to Dharamsala with the team on October 20 and will now join the team directly in Lucknow where India will play England,” the BCCI said. Hardik, the vice-captain, hurt his left ankle while trying to stop the ball with his foot and was taken off the field by the support staff. He was later flown to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for treatment.
India, with four wins in four matches, have the momentum to go all out this time but an injury to Hardik is sure to shake up the team combination as the 2011 champions do not have a comparable replacement, who can bowl and play a can contribute. also with the bat.
Hardik plays a unique role in the Indian cricket team as with him India gets a sixth bowling option and a quality batsman. Before the injury, the medium-pacer had bowled 16 overs and scalped five wickets in the first three World Cup matches.
“He is a real fast bowler, who can carry a good pace. So that gives us an advantage. That gives us the luxury of playing with three spinners and three sears as well,” Rohit had earlier commented on Hardik’s importance to the team .
Who could replace Hardik Pandya?
India have the option of bringing in Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan, both specialist hitters.
While Suryakumar Yadav can pace the innings quickly, Ishan Kishan, who scored 47 against Afghanistan on October 11, gives India a left-handed batting option.
However, this will reduce Rohit Sharma’s bowling options to just five, leaving no room for variety.
If India opts for a specialist bowler but still wants some batting power, Ravichandran Ashwin is the frontrunner for the role. The lower order will consist of Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin and Shardul Thakur.
The other option for India is to replace Hardik Pandya with a batsman and bring in Ashwin in place of Shardul Thakur, who has endured a challenging tournament so far. Thakur has conceded 102 runs in 17 overs this World Cup and taken just two wickets.
However, this team means that India is left with just two pacers: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
If the Dharamshala delivery proves beneficial for bowlers, India could select Mohammed Shami as Thakur’s replacement but will have to compromise on their batting strength.
An alternative approach could involve replacing Hardik with a specialist batsman, bringing in Ashwin in place of Thakur and replacing Kuldeep Yadav with Shami. This strategy ensures that the team’s batting depth remains intact while strengthening the bowling lineup to adapt to match conditions.
Finding the balance between bowling and batting will also be based on the field conditions. In the last two matches in Dharamshala, pacers have taken majority of the wickets.
These permutations and combinations prove how important Hardik Pandya’s role is in the Indian team. Rohit Sharma will be in a conundrum to find the best 11 to compensate for Pandya’s absence.
“No one in the world actually. He’s such a good all-rounder at the moment, and if you think back to the history of the way he’s performed, there’s always a balance problem when he doesn’t play for any team. He’s always a balance problem.” provides that great stability,” Hayden told ESPNcricinfo.
The vice-captain will also be changed in Hardik’s absence and KL Rahul is likely to take on the role of Rohit Sharma’s deputy.
India will play England on October 29, where Hardik Pandya is expected to return to the field.
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