Hardik Pandya out, India need to look at these all-rounders in future

ByKamran Khan November 8, 20238 months ago

Hardik Pandya out, India need to look at these all-rounders in future

With Hardik Pandya ruled out of the World Cup due to injury, India needs to start looking for solid replacements for the future.

Team India has been dealt a huge blow as fast bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury he sustained in the match against Bangladesh. Since then, there have been many ifs and buts about his availability. But the reason he is perhaps the most important player on the team is the kind of balance he provides with his overall skills: a decent pacer, a weapon defender and a batsman who can bat anywhere in the order.

It is difficult to digest the fact that I will miss the rest of the World Cup. I will be with the team, in spirit, cheering them on every ball of every game. Thank you for all the wishes, love and support, it has been incredible. This team is special and I am sure that… pic.twitter.com/b05BKW0FgL

-hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 4, 2023

Hardik Pandya’s injury has once again raised the question: Does India have the next fast bowling all-rounder ready to take over? The answer might be no for now, but there are some interesting prospects that could serve India well in the future.

Hardik Pandya’s possible replacement for the future

Raj Bawa

This right-handed batsman and bowler first came to prominence during the 2021 U-19 World Cup, where India lost to Bangladesh in the final. The 20-year-old is already playing in the IPL for the Punjab Kings but is yet to put together a substantial performance. He needs to be consistent and maintain his fitness levels to be in the reckoning. In the 13 T20 matches, he has 10 wickets and 137 runs to his name.

Harshit Rana

Another Under-19 World Cup star Harshit Rana should be on India’s radar in the future. He is a good fast bowler and an equally good batsman. At least that’s what his first-class record says. In seven FC matches he has 28 wickets at an average of 26.35 and 343 runs with the bat, at an average of 49. He also looks like a true all-rounder.

Arjun Tendulkar

One all-rounder that no one seems to talk about is Arjun Tendulkar. He has the pedigree to be a good batsman and is an emerging fast bowler.

In the last IPL, he also made his debut for Mumbai Indians and seems to have the potential to go all the way and play for India. So far he hasn’t given brilliant performances, but he has had a couple of notable ones. In his debut at FC he scored a lot. In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Saurashtra, he scored 47 quick runs and also returned with figures of 1/34.