T20 World Cup 2022: Critical injuries in the India/New Zealand/ SA squad and impact on their chances at the World Cup

Teams like Australia, India, England, and Pakistan have all been very cautious in minimizing the chance of injury to their key players. They have rested their stars from any cricketing action in the series before the World Cup. 

But, few teams have not been fortunate enough. The inevitable injuries have hit their squads, leaving them with the headache of replacement worthy enough.

Here are a few teams entering the World Cup with total energy but without their key pillars, leaving questions on their journey in the mega tournament.

India

The ICC ranked number one T20I team is considered a favourite for any world cup, but fans don't feel the same this time. This time Men in blue will enter the tournament without their most dependable all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and the irreplaceable Jasprit Bumrah.

Ravindra Jadeja got a knee injury, while Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to his consistent back injury.

The absence of such vital names has convinced many that India's World Cup campaign is already doomed.

India, although has a great all-rounder in the form of Hardik Pandya, replacing Jasprit Bumrah has been impossible. India has struggled badly in death overs bowling in the last couple of series. A section where India was immune because of Jasprit Bumrah. 

"If you ask me a possible like-for-like replacement for Bumrah, there is none. There's no one really in the world.", said Shane Watson.

Mohammed Shami, Deepak Chahar, and Arshdeep Singh are the ones who will be responsible for carrying the team's bowling and doing the job that Jasprit Bumrah used to do.

New Zealand

The dark horse missed the T20I World Cup title last year against Australia. New Zealand has been a team with a fantastic track record in such mega tournaments, but despite having everything with them, they have missed little luck every time. 

With less than two weeks left for their first game at the T20 World Cup, New Zealand is sweating over the fitness of Daryl Mitchell after the all-rounder fractured his finger while batting in the nets. The injury has ruled him out of the ongoing tri-series involving Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

"It's a real shame for Daryl to suffer this injury on the eve of an exciting period of cricket for the side," said head coach Gary Stead.

"With our first game of the World Cup in just over two weeks we need to take some time to consider Daryl's recovery timeline and his potential involvement in the tournament," he added.

South Africa

South Africa's cricket team has never won any World Cup, and after their great generation of Faf Du Plessis, AB De Villiers, and Dale Steyn went, they have found themselves in more struggle.

In the last couple of months, their players have started establishing themselves for a greater tournament, but right before the World Cup, they got two big blows.

Their most reliable middle-order batter Rassie Van der Dussen, and their crucial all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius have been ruled out of the T20I World Cup 2022.

The joint-highest wicket-taker for South Africa during the last T20I World Cup has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against India and the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Dwaine Pretorius suffered an injury during the third T20I against India and is set to undergo surgery. 

"The nature of the injury requires surgical intervention and Dwaine will consult the Cricket South Africa designated hand surgeon on arrival in South Africa," CSA chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra said.