The ODI World Cup starts on October 5 which is just six months away. Preparation mode is on among teams as they look to form their core group of players. In such situations, injuries, especially ones that put players in doubt for the World Cup, tend to be a wrinkle. At the moment, 4 individuals find themselves in such a situation. They are Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Kane Williamson.
Bumrah is still recovering from his back injury despite surgery. The 29-year-old has been out of action for more than six months and is racing against time to be fit for the World Cup.
AFP
Pant has not played since his car accident a little over 3 months back and will still take time to be match fit. At the moment, he is not even fit to practice, let alone play. Time is running out as the World Cup looms large.
Iyer will need back surgery and is expected to be sidelined for at least 3 months. That makes it all the more difficult for him to earn a place in the squad.
Williamson suffered an ACL tear in the IPL opener and that has put him in doubt for the World Cup. Six months is the recovery time frame and he will need surgery as well, so it will be touch and go and the odds are not in his favour at the moment.
BCCI
Squads will be announced by the end of August so that moves up the timeline for these players to not only be fit but match-ready ahead of the tournament. Match practice too is an issue that will need to be considered. While we all wish to see them at the World Cup, we also want them to get recover well. Rushing back in and possibly aggravating the injury is not something to look forward to. So will we see them at the World Cup? Time will tell.