India’s World Cup preparations took a major hit on Thursday as fast bowler Arundhati Reddy was unfortunately forced off the field in a wheelchair during a warm-up match against England in Bengaluru.
The incident occurred during Reddy’s follow-through while bowling to England captain Heather Knight. As she attempted to take a return catch, she landed awkwardly on her left leg and immediately collapsed. Medical staff quickly attended to her, but she had to be taken off the field in a wheelchair, sparking concerns about her participation in the global tournament.
Arundhati Reddy was taken off in a warm-up match against England (Screengrabs/ICC)
Before her unfortunate exit, Reddy had already made an impact, providing India with an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Amy Jones.
The 27-year-old seamer has emerged as a crucial component of India’s pace attack since her debut last year. In just 11 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), she has claimed 15 wickets at an average of 32.66, with her best figures being an impressive 4 for 26. She recently showcased her form against Australia, securing four wickets across two matches, including a three-wicket haul in Delhi. This year alone, she has taken seven wickets in six ODIs.
Her availability for the highly anticipated ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is now uncertain, with an official update on the extent of her injury still pending. India, who have reached the finals twice in 2005 and 2017, are eagerly chasing their first-ever World Cup title on home soil. Their campaign is scheduled to kick off against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30.
At the time of Reddy’s injury, England were in a strong position, having scored 214 for 3 in the 36th over after being asked to bat first. They ultimately concluded their innings with a total of 339 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.