India may not have missed the absence of Hardik Pandya in their win against New Zealand, but the fast-bowling allrounder’s recovery from the ankle injury remains critical to the team’s balance going deeper into the 2023 ICC World Cup. But the chances of Hardik returning fit in time for India’s next two matches are not bright. Hardik injured his left ankle while bowling during India’s match against Bangladesh. He had scans done and has since been under the care of doctors at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. However, according to latest media reports, there is some doubt over Hardik’s availability for India’s next couple of matches — against England on October 29 and against Sri Lanka on November 2. Unbeaten India sit atop the points table with five wins in a row. With a foot in the semifinals, the Indian team is in a position to not risk Hardik before he fully recovers and allows him to rest for the next two matches.