Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be absent from India's upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against New Zealand in Dharamsala this Sunday due to an unforeseen ankle injury.
Pandya is set to undergo treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, where a specialist doctor from England will oversee his recovery, as reported by the Indian Express.
The injury occurred during India's recent victory over Bangladesh in Pune when Pandya attempted to stop a straight drive off his own bowling, resulting in the ankle injury.
An unnamed BCCI official shared insight into Pandya's recovery plan, mentioning that he is expected to rejoin the Indian team in preparation for their clash with England on October 29 in Lucknow.
The BCCI official stated, "He will be heading to Bengaluru where he has been asked to report to the NCA. The medical team assessed his ankle scan report, and it appears that he will recover well with the administration of an injection. The BCCI consulted with a specialist doctor in England, who concurred with a similar opinion. Consequently, he will be missing the next game."
The BCCI medical team's assessment of Pandya's injury indicated that it was not overly severe and would heal with the injection treatment.
In the four WC 2023 matches played, Pandya has excelled as a bowler, securing five wickets, although he has not yet had significant time as a batter.
