World Cup 2023: Injured Hardik Pandya taken for scans; unlikely to bat

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured himself during the ninth over after the physio came to check on him. Virat Kohli bowled three balls to complete his over. Hardik has been taken for scans.

Pune (Maharashtra):India started their defence against Bangladesh at a disadvantage of possibly missing Hardik Pandya at No 7. The all-rounder picked up an ankle injury in the middle of his bowling spell and had to be escorted out for the rest of the first innings.

He had bowled just three deliveries of India’s ninth over when he started limping and star batter Virat Kohli was called in by the captain to finish the over. According to a BCCI statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hardik Pandya has since been taken for a scan and the situation is being assessed.

After he twisted his ankle on follow through and despite the physio looking in, he had to walk off. It is unlikely that he would be in a position to bat or, worse still miss the next match against New Zealand in Dharamsala.

"Hardik Pandya's injury is being assessed at the moment and he is being taken for scans," the BCCI informed in a post through its official handle on X. Pandya has been vital for Rohit Sharma’s plans in this World Cup campaign.

He has been his go-to bowler over Shardul Thakur to deliver a wicket and break worrying partnerships. His absence will give a combination headache for the Indian management which just the other day announced it was in no mood to tinker with the winning combination to include Mohammed Shami or Surya Kumar Yadav. “Only if there is an opportunity,” bowling coach Paras Mhambrey had said in a pre-match interaction with journalists.