Hardik Pandya ruled out of England clash due to ligament damage

Hardik Pandya is yet to recover from the injury he sustained during the match against Bangladesh and has now been ruled out of the match against England in Lucknow. According to reports on ESPN Cricinfo, Hardik has slight ligament damage, and even though India have a week’s gap before taking on England, he wouldn’t be fit for the encounter.

The all-rounder is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, and in his absence, India decided to bolster both departments by adding Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami to the playing XI against New Zealand. Shami was at his best, picking up a five-wicket haul, but that has reduced India to five bowlers.

Rohit Sharma revealed that Hardik Pandya didn’t incur any massive injury and should have been right for the Lucknow clash. But with the Baroda all-rounder now being ruled out, there is a great chance India will continue with the same combination. However, there is another possibility of Ravichandran Ashwin returning to the playing XI ahead of one of Mohammed Shami or Mohammed Siraj.