India’s World Cup journey will take a substantial hit as star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is confirmed to be out for the remainder of the tournament, with Prasidh Krishna stepping in as his replacement.
Hardik Pandya’s left ankle injury, sustained during India’s World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune last month, has unfortunately ruled him out of the rest of the campaign. The ICC on Friday, November 3rd, confirmed that Prasidh Krishna has been approved by the tournament’s Event Technical Committee as Pandya’s replacement.
Krishna’s most recent international outing was just before the World Cup, where he claimed the wicket of David Warner and recorded figures of 1/45 against Australia. Although Krishna has shown promise with 33 international wickets, he faces tough competition from seasoned bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj for a spot in India’s pace attack.
India has already secured a spot in the World Cup 2023 semi-finals with a resounding 302-run victory over Sri Lanka on November 2nd. To adapt to Pandya’s absence, the team was forced to implement two changes, fielding five bowlers and positioning Suryakumar Yadav at the number six spot.
This development means that Prasidh Krishna is now eligible for selection in India’s playing lineup for the crucial match against fellow high-performer South Africa, scheduled for Sunday, November 5th, in Kolkata. The match carries significant weight as India and South Africa currently occupy the top two positions in the World Cup standings.
Last Updated on November 4, 2023
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