“I got injections done in my ankle in three places”- Hardik Pandya on getting injured midway during World Cup 2023.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s 2023 World Cup journey was cut short after sustaining an ankle injury during the match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19. Pandya, attempting to halt a delivery on his follow-through, landed awkwardly on his left ankle, forcing him out of the remainder of the tournament.

Despite the severity of the injury, Pandya expressed his determination to return to the field as swiftly as possible, assuring the team management of his commitment to recovery.

In an interview with Star Sports, Pandya shared insights into his rehabilitation efforts, saying

“I had prepared for the World Cup for a year. It was a freak injury that was said to be for 25 days which means I would miss the rest of the World Cup, but I pushed. I told the management I would return in five days. I got injections done in my ankle in three places. I had to remove blood from my ankle because of the swelling.”

His absence posed a significant challenge for India, given his pivotal role as a seam-bowling all-rounder, prompting the team to make adjustments, with batter Suryakumar Yadav and pacer Mohammed Shami stepping in to fill the void in the playing XI.