World Cup 2023: 'Tough to digest', Hardik Pandya pens emotional note after being ruled out of tournament

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Saturday that it was “tough” for him to digest the fact that he would be missing the remainder of the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an injury.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

Hardik was on Saturday ruled out of the rest of the World Cup, after failing to recover from an ankle injury he sustained during the game against Bangladesh on 19 October.

Hardik twisted his ankle, while unsuccessfully trying to  stop a boundary from Litton Das during the India vs Bangladesh group stage game in Pune. Hardik was helped off the field midway into his first over, and Virat Kohli eventually completed the over.

Prasidh Krishna has been named Hardik Pandya’s replacement in the squad.

“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 make everyone proud. Love, always, HP,” Hardik wrote on the micro-blogging platform ‘X’, formerly called Twitter.

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

In the three full games Hardik played at the World Cup, the 30-year-old managed to pick up five wickets.

India have been on a roll in this World Cup. The Men in Blue clinched their semi-final spot at the World Cup, with a dominant 302-run win over Sri Lanka in Mumbai. India sit atop the points table with seven wins in as many games.

The hosts next face South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday.