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Why India Replaced Hardik Pandya With Prasidh Krishna? Rahul Dravid Reveals

image-lok19f32Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of 2023 [X.com]

In a significant setback for India, ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the 2023 World Cup due to an ankle injury. The veteran cricketer injured his left ankle while bowling during the team's fourth World Cup face-off against Bangladesh in Pune. Following the incident, he didn't take the field before eventually being ruled out of the marquee event. 

As a result, India replaced him with promising pacer Prasidh Krishna, who is available for selection for their eighth league-stage game against South Africa in Kolkata. However, as Pandya is an all-rounder, fans and experts voiced that someone like Axar Patel or Washington Sundar could've been a better replacement for him. 

Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial clash against the Proteas, Indian head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed why they chose Krishna ahead of an all-rounder as Pandya's replacement. 

Speaking to the media, Dravid explained that India need backups for their pacers, who are featuring in all matches. In such a scenario, it made sense to rope in Krishna as Pandya's replacement. 

"Since we have been playing with three pacers after Hardik Pandya got injured and we don't have any backups for our three pacers that's why we picked Prasidh Krishna as a replacement," Dravid said. 

Prasidh Krishna has played 17 ODIs for India, scalping 29 wickets at a reasonably good average and economy. However, considering the red-hot form of Shami, Siraj and Bumrah, India are unlikely to draft him straight into the playing XI.