Hardik Pandya, arguably the only renowned pace bowling all-rounder in the Indian team, has had his participation cut short as he misses most of the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury. Although Hardik was told that a 25-day recovery period was required, he tried to force himself to return within 5 days, which resulted in the injury worsening. The all-rounder, who has now suited up for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, shared his horror story of the injury he suffered during the World Cup, which forced him to miss the field for months.

“I am a cricketer who would not have started playing 2-3 months ago, I started this World Cup journey a year ago, I had planned my routine a year and a half ago and Trained accordingly. It was a freak injury. Not many people knew that my injury was prolonged and I had to spend more time because when I was injured, it was a 25-day rehab injury. I missed the World Cup , but I pushed because I had to come back and when I came out I informed the team that I would be back in 5 days.

Speaking to Star Sports, Hardik said: “I had injections in three different places in my ankle and I had to clear the blood from it because it was swollen too much.”

Hardik pushed himself to the limit in the hope of playing for the team as Rohit Sharma and his teammates remained unbeaten ahead of the World Cup final. However, his injury resurfaced, forcing him to miss the next three months.

“In a way, I didn’t want to give up and I would do my best for the team. At some point, I realized that if I kept pushing myself, I could be injured for a long time. For me, it was It was never an answer for me, if I had a one percent chance that I could make the team I would try my best and when I pushed myself it happened to me again and my injury turned into Three months of injury because I was pushing and I couldn’t walk, but I was trying to run,” he said.

Hardik, who had always dreamed of winning the World Cup for his team, was never able to fully recover and make a comeback in exhibition matches, which he will always regret.

“I pushed myself for 10 days, took painkillers and tried to make sure I could get back to the team, how I could rejoin the team. For me, the biggest pride is to play for the national team, there is no bigger thing than that. So proud.” Playing for the national team. It’s my kids at home at the World Cup, it’s my kids so I want to be there for them whether we win or not, I want to be there for my kids and obviously I missed that and that’s what it always makes My heart is heavy,” he said.