In the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Hardik Pandya, a key player for India, faces a tough situation. He might not be able to play in the important matches against England and Sri Lanka due to an ankle injury. This injury happened while he was fielding during India's game against Bangladesh in Pune. As a result, he couldn't participate in the following match against New Zealand in Dharamshala. Currently, he's getting treatment for his injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Initially, the hope was that Pandya would be ready for the England match in Lucknow, but things have changed. Reports from The Indian Express say Pandya hasn't started bowling again, and the medical team is taking a cautious approach. They want to give him more time to recover at the NCA. His return to the Indian team is now expected for either the match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai or the game against South Africa in Kolkata.

The Indian team's management doesn't want to rush Pandya back; they want him to be fully fit for the last two crucial matches. With India's strong performance in the World Cup, they're aiming to make it to the semifinals.

Pandya plays a vital role as a bowler and a middle-order batter for India. Unfortunately, his injury has limited his chances to bat during this tournament. But his importance to the team is clear.

In Pandya's absence, the Indian team made two smart changes to their playing XI against New Zealand. They brought in Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav. Shami had a fantastic performance, taking five wickets in his first match in the ODI World Cup 2023. So, it's likely that India will stick with this new combination for the upcoming matches.

Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team is the only unbeaten side in the tournament, with five wins from five games. They have four more group stage matches ahead, against England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands, as they continue their journey in the World Cup.