Indian forward Ishan Pandita will be out of the squad for India’s second match in the Intercontinental Cup on Monday and is doubtful for the remainder of the tournament, Sportstar can confirm.
The 25-year-old is suspected of having an injury in his left thigh and was seen wearing a bandage before India’s first match in the tournament against Mongolia as well.
On Sunday, a day before India’s match against Vanuatu, he did not take part in training alongside the rest of the team. Instead, he walked around the pitch with one of the team staff and had a bandage on.
Pandita eventually did not play against Vanuatu, and head coach Igor Stimac confirmed the injury after his team’s 1-0 win. In Pandita’s absence, India had only two recognised strikers in the squad: Sunil Chhetri and Rahim Ali.
“We did not have (available) Ashique (Kuruniyan), Rahul (Bheke), and Ishan (Pandita) for minor injuries, but that’s how it works. You pick and choose who you have available,” he said.
Pandita has scored three goals in all competitions for the Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC this season, playing his last official game on April 18 in a group-stage match in the Super Cup against Gokulam Kerala FC.
Having made his national team debut under the current head coach, Stimac, in 2021, Pandita has played six times for the Blue Tigers and has scored once—against Hong Kong in India’s 4-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in 2022.
India plays Lebanon twice in the next five days, including the final on June 18.
Comments
SHARE