India’s vice-captain, Hardik Pandya, is on the road to recovery and is anticipated to make his return to the cricket field during the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup. This news comes after his absence from action since the match against Bangladesh in Pune, which raised concerns about his fitness and availability for the prestigious tournament.
Hardik Pandya, known for his prowess as an all-rounder, was unable to accompany the Indian team to Dharamsala after their victory over New Zealand, and he was also unavailable for their sixth fixture against England in Lucknow due to a left ankle injury. However, the 30-year-old is making steady progress in his recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Sources informed
Sources close to the developments have reported that Pandya has already undergone a couple of net sessions at the NCA and is under the constant supervision of the BCCI medical team. The signs are promising, indicating that his return to competitive cricket is on the horizon.
“Hardik Pandya has already had a couple of net sessions at the NCA, is under constant supervision of the BCCI medical team and looking good,” says a source close to developments.
While the exact date of Pandya’s return could not be confirmed at this stage, it is understood that team management is likely to ease him back into the set-up now that India’s last-four spot is confirmed.
“It will be difficult to put a date on return at this stage but signs are encouraging and India’s unbeaten run has certainly allowed him more time to recover and be ready for the knockouts,” adds the source.
While an exact return date for Pandya remains uncertain, the team management intends to reintegrate him into the squad now that India has secured a spot in the semi-finals. His potential return is seen as a significant boost to the team, especially after India’s unbeaten run in the tournament.
With three fixtures left for India in the World Cup – against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, South Africa in Kolkata, and Netherlands in Bengaluru – there is a possibility that Pandya could rejoin the squad during the match against Netherlands in Bengaluru, given his current location in Bengaluru.
In the absence of Hardik Pandya, India has been compelled to rely on specialist players in recent matches, missing the flexibility of an extra all-rounder. As Pandya nears his return, the team management faces the delightful problem of having multiple quality options for their playing XI.
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