Cricket World Cup 2023: Hardik Pandya ruled out of the World Cup due to ankle injury! THIS player called in as replacement

Hardik Pandya is gutted he can't play more matches for India, but says he is with the team in spirit.

Cricket World Cup 2023: Hardik Pandya ruled out of the World Cup due to ankle injury! THIS player called in as replacement

Hardik Pandya injured his left ankle while trying to stop a boundary (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

On 4th November, the Board of Control of Cricket in India confirmed that Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the ongoing 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. After sustaining an ankle injury in India’s match against Bangladesh, he has been in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, recovering. It has been reported that he had damage to a ligament after he twisted his left ankle. 

Pandya went on his Twitter account and confirmed that he will have no part in the World Cup as well. He stated he was gutted to miss the upcoming World Cup but will be in the team in spirit, supporting the team. Pandya played the first four matches of the World Cup, picking 5 wickets. 

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Pandya has been an instrumental part of the Indian squad. Being one of the best bowling all-rounders in the world, he was one of the biggest assets India had and usually operated as the third pacer for India. In 2023, he scored 383 runs in 13 innings and picked up 21 wickets with an average of 24.86. Pandya had a key roles for India in winning the 2023 Asia Cup.

Prasidh Krishna replaces Hardik Pandya 

The Indian Cricket Team has decided to call up Prasidh Krishna as Hardik Pandya’s replacement. The 27-year-old pacer from Karnataka has played 17 ODIs since 2021, picking up 29 wickets with an average of 25.58. He had missed over a year of cricket due to a stress fracture on his lower back, but returned in July 2022 to play for India. 

Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna has taken 29 wickets in 17 matches (Image via ESPN)

Prasidh played only 3 ODIs in 2023, featuring in one match in the Asia Cup and 2 matches in the ODI series against Australia. He recently played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Karnataka, picking up 5 wickets in 5 matches with an average of 23.

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