Hardik Pandya’s journey in the World Cup 2023 has come to an abrupt end as he has been ruled out due to an injury. The International Cricket Council (ICC) delivered this unfortunate news on the early morning of November 4, announcing that Prasidh Krishna would step in to fill Pandya’s shoes.
Pandya faced the setback during India’s match against Bangladesh in Pune, slipping while bowling. Following this, he underwent recovery at the National Cricket Academy. In his absence, India made strategic changes to their lineup, bringing in Mohammed Shami as bowling cover and including Suryakumar Yadav in the playing XI. In order to maintain balance, India benched Shardul Thakur, their second fast-bowling all-rounder.
The absence of Hardik Pandya, a prominent all-rounder, has left India with only five bowling options, prompting reactions from cricket enthusiasts. Aakash Chopra, a former cricketer, expressed his sentiments on Twitter, highlighting the significance of Pandya’s absence and emphasizing the scarcity of players with his skill-set in India.
“Hardik Pandya ruled out of the World Cup. Big blow to the possibilities of having a sixth bowling option. India’s picked pacer Prasidh Krishna to replace him. Says a lot about how many players of Hardik’s skill set are available in India. The answer is 0,” Chopra stated on X.
Despite the setback, Mohammed Shami seized the opportunity presented by Pandya’s injury, delivering outstanding performances. With 14 wickets from three matches, Shami has become a crucial asset for the team. With a secured spot in the tournament’s semi-finals, India can now utilize its bench strength in the remaining group-stage matches.