Hardik Pandya ruled out of World Cup 2023; Prasidh named as replacement

In a big blow to India's World Cup campaign, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the remainder of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after sustaining an ankle injury during the India vs Bangladesh game. 

Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna will replace Hardik Pandya in the 15-member India squad.

30-year-old Pandya has failed to recover in time for the rest of India's campaign. He headed straight to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru after the injury on October 19.

Hardik Pandya gutted after missing remainder of Cricket World Cup 2023

After being ruled out of the World Cup, Hardik took to social media platform X and wrote, it is tough for him to digest that he won't be part of Indian team now.
 

 

Tough to digest the fact that I will miss out on the remaining part of the World Cup. I'll be with the team, in spirit, cheering them on every ball of every game. Thanks for all the wishes, the love, and the support has been incredible. This team is special and I'm sure we'll… pic.twitter.com/b05BKW0FgL

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 4, 2023

ICC's Event Technical Committee approved Krishna as Hardik Pandya's replacement on Saturday.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 consists of Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager Cricket and ETC Chair), Chris Tetley (ICC Head of Events), Hemang Amin (Acting CEO - BCCI), Gaurav Saxena (General Manager Operations, BCCI), Russel Arnold and Simon Doull (Independent Representatives)

Check ICC Cricket World Cup latest news updates here

Hardik Pandya's career stats

Batting & Fielding
FORMAT	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct
Tests	11	18	1	532	108	31.29	73.88	1	4	68	12	7
ODIs	86	61	9	1769	92*	34.01	110.35	0	11	132	67	32
T20Is	92	71	18	1348	71*	25.43	139.83	0	3	96	69	45
FC	29	46	1	1351	108	30.02	56.71	1	10	167	24	14
List A	107	79	14	2103	92*	32.35	105.41	0	13	152	76	41
T20s	244	212	62	4425	91	29.5	139.01	0	17	321	229	120
Bowling
FORMAT	Mat	Inns	Balls	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
Tests	11	19	937	17	5/28	6/50	31.05	3.38	55.1	0	1	0
ODIs	86	80	3199	84	4/24	4/24	35.23	5.55	38	1	0	0
T20Is	92	81	1433	73	4/16	4/16	26.71	8.16	19.6	3	0	0
FC	29	39	2694	48	5/28	8/91	30.95	3.3	56.1	0	3	0
List A	107	94	3949	100	4/24	4/24	35.63	5.41	39.4	1	0	0
T20s	244	190	3175	152	4/16	4/16	28.34	8.14	20.8	3	0	0

*Source: ESPNcricinfo

Does Prasidh Krishna is apt replacement for Hardik Pandya?

It came as a huge suprise for cricket fans as Prasidh Krishan was named Hardik Pandya's replacement given Indian pace department led by Jasprit Bumrah has been doing exceptionally well. The India pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Shami have taken 38 wickets them in the seven matches played so far. 
 
Prasidh Krishna career stats

Bowling
FORMAT	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
ODIs	17	17	794	742	29	4/12	4/12	25.58	5.6	27.3	2	0	0
T20Is	2	2	48	61	4	2/29	2/29	15.25	7.62	12	0	0	0
FC	11	21	1857	863	49	6/35	10/94	17.61	2.78	37.8	3	2	1
List A	67	67	3071	2685	113	6/33	6/33	23.76	5.24	27.1	7	2	0
T20s	79	79	1730	2426	77	4/30	4/30	31.5	8.41	22.4	1	0	0
Batting & Fielding
FORMAT	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct
ODIs	17	7	5	2	2*	1	17	11.76	0	0	0	0	3
T20Is	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
FC	11	15	8	62	25	8.85	162	38.27	0	0	6	4	3
List A	67	23	18	30	9*	6	74	40.54	0	0	2	1	18
T20s	79	12	8	10	4*	2.5	29	34.48	0	0	0	0	16

Source: ESPNcricinfo

How India will miss Hardik Pandya's services in the world cup?

Hardik Pandya gave India a third bowling option and in his absence if one of the five bowlers has a off day, then the opposition could target the sixth bowling option which could be Virat Kohli or any bowler. 

The biggest test for India will be the game against South Africa on Sunday (November 5). The hard-hitting batters of South Africa could come hard on India bowler and could exploit the lack of sixth bowling option.