Mumbai: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is out of the current World Cup (ICC Cricket World Cup 2023) due to injury. The Indian cricket team has suffered a severe blow due to his exclusion. However, the Indian team, which is in excellent form, has entered the semi-finals without Hardik by registering a resounding win in the last three matches. Now the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed wicketkeeper batsman KL Rahul as the vice-captain of the team for the World Cup in place of Hardik. At the same time, the ICC has approved BCCI’s request to include the famous Prasidh Krishna in the Indian squad for the upcoming matches in place of the 30-year-old all-rounder.
Hardik was injured while bowling in the match played between India and Bangladesh (IND vs BAN) on October 19 in Pune (Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune). In that match, he got injured while trying to stop the ball with his foot in the follow through on the third ball of his first over. The ankle of his left leg was twisted. After this, Hardik, who was groaning in pain, went out of the field on the advice of the doctor. After this he did not even come on the field for bowling and batting. According to a report, BCCI has appointed Rahul as the vice-captain of the Indian team for the remaining World Cup. Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar gave this information.
Rahul is looking in great form in the current tournament. He has scored one half-century so far. In the first match against Australia, he played an unbeaten inning of 97 runs. He did not get a chance to bat in the second match against Afghanistan. He scored an unbeaten 19 runs in the third match against Pakistan. After this, his bat scored unbeaten 34 against Bangladesh, 27 against New Zealand, 39 against England and 21 against Sri Lanka. Even behind the wicket, with his agility he has helped captain Rohit Sharma in taking the right DRS. He has also taken many excellent catches.