T20 World Cup 2021: Revealed - Why Hardik Pandya Isn't Fielding vs Pakistan

Things are getting worse for star India cricketer Hardik Pandya. The right-hander didn’t take the field during the second innings against Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai; Ishan Kishan substituted for him.

It was soon made clear by commentator Ian Bishop that Hardik Pandya was down with a shoulder blow, which he had sustained from a short ball by Shaheen Afridi when he was batting during India’s innings.

The video then showed Hardik Pandya clasping his shoulder in pain. In his innings, he scored 11 runs off 8 balls, wherein he stroked a couple of boundaries.

Watch: Commentator Ian Bishop Reveals Why Hardik Pandya Isn’t Fielding vs Pakistan:

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Already out of form and battling back injury issues – which has rendered him unable to bowl yet – this would be morale-shattering news for Hardik Pandya if his injury is anything serious.

Pakistan on top in their chase of 152

Chasing 152, Pakistan got off to a swift start with a four and a six by Mohammad Rizwan and a boundary for Babar Azam. Both would hit another boundary each as Pakistan capped off the powerplay at 43/0.

Azam then launched Ravindra Jadeja for a massive six and took a boundary off Varun Chakravarthy. Pakistan stand tall at 71/0 at the 10-over mark.

Earlier, after electing to bowl first, Pakistan were given a scintillating start by ace pacer Shaheen Afridi as he dismissed both Indian openers early on. The left-arm speedster trapped Rohit Sharma lbw in the first over. The inswinging full-length delivery seamed in as Sharma got into an awkward position.

On the first ball of his second over, Afridi castled the in-form KL Rahul. Another inswinger on length, which nipped back in sharply breached through Rahul’s bat and pad gap as he tried to work it on the leg side, crashing into the sticks and giving India a nightmarish start.

Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli both smashed a six off Afridi to release some pressure but Yadav edged Hasan Ali to the wicket-keeper. India were left reeling at 36/3 at the end of the powerplay.

The partnership trickled for the next five overs, before Pant broke his shackles with two one-handed sixes off Hasan Ali. However, Shadab Khan ended Pant’s innings before the left-hander could do further damage.

Kohli then upped the ante a bit, finding boundaries at will across the field, and would bring up his fifty. However, he lost the support of Ravindra Jadeja, who fell to Hasan Ali. Afridi returned to dismiss Kohli (57 off 49) with a short ball in the 19^th over. Haris Rauf accounted for Hardik Pandya as India just managed to cross 150.

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