Hardik Pandya Conundrum Surfaces Again: ODI World Cup Worries Resurface Despite India's Victorious Start in T20 WC Buildup

Summary: The Indian team had previously experienced the repercussions of this scenario during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

The recently concluded India-Australia T20I series in Bengaluru carried a subdued atmosphere. Despite being seen as India's chance to seek redemption for a painful ODI World Cup final loss against Australia, the majority of players from both sides, who featured in the tournament, were given rest. Only three Indian World Cup members, including the late addition of Shreyas Iyer for the final two matches, participated. Meanwhile, Australia initially had seven World Cup players, with six departing after the third game, leaving Travis Head, the hero of the World Cup final, as the sole remaining player. The absence of prominent names dampened the series' allure, yet it held significance as a precursor to the 2024 T20 World Cup, just seven months away.

Ahead of the World Cup hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 4, India, like many other teams, has a limited number of scheduled games. The team is set to play only 11 international matches as part of their tournament fixture, commencing with a three-match series against South Africa next week, followed by an equivalent number of matches against Afghanistan in January. Consequently, each game becomes a crucial step in the journey to identify a core 15-member squad, aiming to break their prolonged ICC trophy drought.

Hardik Pandya's ODI World Cup concerns resurface despite India's winning start in T20 WC prep. The India-Australia T20I series lacked star power, yet it held significance with only 11 scheduled matches ahead of the World Cup. Fringe players, including Suryakumar Yadav, showcased promise in India's 4-1 series win, contributing to the search for a core squad.

Amidst India's impressive performances, former Aussie cricketer Simon Katich noted a crucial flaw: the team's dependence on Hardik Pandya's unique all-round skills. In today's cricket, few top-order batters bowl, making Hardik's role pivotal. This imbalance sidelined quality bowler Mohammed Shami in the early World Cup stages.

Hardik's sudden ankle injury in the fourth game exposed India's vulnerability. Shifting to Plan B with Suryakumar and Shami, stellar performances masked the issue until the World Cup final, where it cost them the title. This recurring problem dates back to the 2021 T20 World Cup, yet the management missed the chance to find a backup in the recent T20I series against Australia.

The players have showcased T20 skills, but the concern lies in the absence of a genuine all-rounder in the top six, according to Katich. Having a 6th or 7th bowling option can ease pressure on the skipper, especially if one or two bowlers get targeted on a given night.

India stuck to five bowling options in the Australia series, with Captain Suryakumar not seeking additional choices, missing the chance to test Shivam Dube. Despite IPL success, Dube isn't in the South Africa T20I series. Finding fast-bowling all-rounders is rare, and while getting another Hardik in seven months may be challenging, preparing backups is crucial. The Australia series was a prime opportunity, but preparations await the Afghanistan series in January before the 2024 IPL.