Hardik Pandya‘s ankle injury, sustained in the previous game against Bangladesh, will force him to miss the upcoming World Cup match against New Zealand, marking a significant setback for India. The absence of a like-for-like replacement for Pandya poses a challenge for the Indian team. Former World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh believes that captain Rohit Sharma must make two strategic changes to address this gap.
Harbhajan Singh proposes bringing in seamer Mohammed Shami rather than Ravichandran Ashwin. He highlighted Dharamsala’s tendency to offer more swing than other World Cup venues. Additionally, he suggests including either Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav at No.6. The idea is to maintain a balance in the team, especially in Pandya’s absence.
“If Hardik Pandya isn’t fit, it’s a problem for India. He’s crucial to our team setup, and if he’s not playing, we’ll need to make adjustments. Options include playing Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav as pure batsmen. We have Shardul Thakur for his all-round skills, but I suggest bringing in Mohammed Shami for a solid 10 overs,” Harbhajan said in an interview with Aaj Tak.
The significance of these changes becomes more pronounced considering India’s reliance on a preferred combination of eight batting options and six bowling options. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, the team faces a challenge in maintaining this balance. Rohit Sharma’s decision to follow Harbhajan’s advice would result in a strong batting unit until No.7. But, it would also feature the longest tail with Shami, Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Siraj forming the lower order.
India’s upcoming match against New Zealand in Dharamsala poses a significant test for the Indian team. The bowling trio of Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Jadeja, combined with the batting prowess of Sharma and Kohli, has contributed to India’s successful campaign so far.
New Zealand’s current form and India’s need for replacements make this match a critical juncture in the World Cup journey.