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'I always fear for him...': Kapil Dev's colossal 'injury' statement on India star ahead of 2023 World Cup
The World Cup-winning former Indian captain said stressed that Indian team needs all of its main players in prime fitness at the 2023 edition.
The ICC announced the schedule for this year's ODI World Cup on Tuesday, with the tournament taking place in October-November in India. The home side will begin its campaign on October 8 against Australia and will take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad exactly a week later. India will be aiming to end the trophy drought in ICC tournament, which dates back to 2013 when the side lifted its last title – the Champions Trophy, under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
It was under Dhoni's leadership when the side won its last ODI World Cup too – in 2011 – when India were co-hosts of the edition alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This year, however, India have already faced a final defeat in the World Test Championship against Australia and further face injury issues ahead of the marquee tournament later this year.
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The side's leading fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been away from action for over nine months now, while Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul – India's key middle-order batters in ODIs – are also nursing injuries. Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, is set to miss the tournament as well, as he continues recovery after a severe road accident in December last year.
Amid the injury issues, former India captain Kapil Dev – who led the side to its first-ever World Cup win in 1983 – highlighted another potential injury threat for the side in Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder made a resounding comeback from a back injury in the Indian Premier League last year and eventually cemented his place in India's white-ball squads; this year, he also led India in T20Is.
However, Hardik has remained reluctant in bowling and on many occasions, didn't complete his full quota even in T20Is, let alone the fifty-over format.
“Injuries are part and parcel of every sportsperson's life. I hope the situation improves. I always fear for Hardik Pandya, he gets injured very quickly. If all of these players are fit and fine, India can become a compact team,” Kapil Dev told ABP News when asked about injury issues in the Indian team.
“See, a World Cup comes after four years, so you've got to be prepared. We need match practice, we need more ODIs,” Kapil further said, stressing that the switch between Tests and T20Is should be halted for some time.
In the upcomin three-match ODI series against West Indies in the Caribbean, Hardik has been named the vice-captain of the side. The all-rounder had also led India in an ODI against Australia earlier this year when Rohit Sharma had skipped the game due to family commitments.
