In a setback for the Indian cricket team, its all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury sustained during a match against Bangladesh on October 19.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been named as Pandya's replacement in the Indian squad.
Pandya suffered the injury last month when he seemingly twisted his left ankle while attempting to stop a shot during his first over against Bangladesh. Subsequently, he did not participate further in that match and underwent scans, revealing ligament damage. The cricketer has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Prasidh Krishna, who boasts 29 wickets in 17 ODIs, last represented India in two ODIs against Australia just before the World Cup, where he took three wickets. Additionally, he showcased his form by securing five wickets in as many matches for Karnataka in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Following Pandya's injury, India made strategic changes to their XI, dropping Shardul Thakur and including Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the lineup. Opting for six specialist batters, one allrounder, and four specialist bowlers, the team displayed commendable performance in the World Cup matches against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
Remaining unbeaten with seven victories in seven games, India became the first team to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals after a convincing 302-run win against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
Their upcoming match against South Africa in Kolkata, scheduled for Sunday, holds significance as it could determine the team that finishes at the top of the points table. Following this, India will play their final league fixture against Netherlands in Bengaluru on November 12.
