ODI World Cup 2023: Uncertainty surrounds injured Hardik Pandya's availability for England clash

As the highly anticipated ICC World Cup encounter between India and England approaches, doubts loom over the participation of Hardik Pandya, who is grappling with an ankle injury. The injury was incurred during India's match against Bangladesh when he attempted to block a shot with his foot.

In the upcoming India vs England match in the ICC World Cup, there is uncertainty surrounding Hardik Pandya's participation due to an ankle injury. This injury occurred when he attempted to block a shot from Litton Das with his foot during India's game against Bangladesh. Following this incident, he underwent scans and received medical care, reportedly at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Recent media reports suggest that there are concerns about whether Hardik will be available for the match against England in Lucknow on October 29. Despite India's unbeaten streak, the recovery of the fast-bowling all-rounder remains vital to maintain the team's balance in the 2023 ICC World Cup.

According to a previous update by the BCCI, Hardik was expected to join the team directly in Lucknow for the England match. With India in a strong position to reach the semifinals, there may be a cautious approach to avoid risking Hardik's health until he is fully fit, potentially leading to him resting for the upcoming match against England. However, an official announcement regarding his availability is still pending.

Squad:

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

India's schedule:

- October 8: India v Australia, Chennai, 2 pm
- October 11: India v Afghanistan, New Delhi, 2 pm
- October 14: India v Pakistan, Ahmedabad, 2 pm
- October 19: India v Bangladesh, Pune, 2 pm
- October 22: India v New Zealand, Dharamsala, 2 pm
- October 29: India v England, Lucknow, 2 pm
- November 2: India v Sri Lanka, Mumbai, 2 pm
- November 5: India v South Africa, Kolkata, 2 pm
- November 12: India v Netherlands, Bengaluru, 2 pm