Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India captain Rohit Sharma gave a positive update on injured Hardik Pandya on the eve of ICC Cricket World Cup game between India and Sri Lanka. Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday’s game against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium, Rohit said, Hardik’s recovery has been very positive. He is being monitored by BCCI medical staffs on daily basis.
“It’s been very positive, I can’t call it rehab. But whatever he has gone through, the procedures at the NCA, it’s been quite positive,” Rohit said in his pre match conference.
He also added, “But it’s that kind of an injury where we have to see every day how much he has recovered and how many percent fit he is. We have to constantly monitor how much he is bowling and how much he is batting. On a day-to-day basis, we have to take that call because, in the World Cup, there is a match every 3-4 days. We are looking into that as well. With the way his recovery is progressing, we will hopefully see him on the field soon. That’s all I can say now.”
Hardik is currently at the National Cricket Academy, undergoing his rehabilitation. The 30-year old all-rounder injured his left ankle while trying to stop a ball off his own follow through in the game against Bangladesh at Pune. The injury already kept him out of the games against New Zealand and England. He is also missing the games against Sri Lanka and South Africa as well. It is expected he might join the squad ahead of the game against Netherlands in Bengaluru.
Indian team management have played Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the XI ever since Hardik Pandya became unavailable while they also dropped Shardul Thakur from the XI.
The hosts are the only undefeated side in the competition having won six consecutive matches. The Men in Blue will take on Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on Thursday, November 2.