The match between India and Bangladesh in the Cricket World Cup 2023 was in progress at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Bangladesh initially chose to bat first after winning the toss. Bangladesh scored ten runs in their first five overs, a poor start.
The first powerplay saw 63 runs contributed by both of the openers. The Indian bowlers had a promising beginning but quickly lost steam. However, the injury to Hardik Pandya was India’s biggest problem.
The all-rounder injured his right ankle while attempting to stop a ball with his feet while bowling three balls in his first over before leaving the field. As a key member of this lineup, Hardik Pandya, this might be a major setback for India. So, which players can replace Hardik if he cannot compete in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Virat Kohli completed the over at a medium pace. Shardul Thakur had to bowl more overs than normal because Pandya wasn’t on the field. India was not harmed by the all-rounder’s absence yesterday, but it will need to be handled if the injury is serious.
If Hardik Pandya cannot compete for India at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, let’s look at three players who could step in.
3 Batsmen Who Can Replace Hardik Pandya If He Gets Ruled Out
1. Washington Sundar
The favorite to replace Hardik Pandya in the Indian starting lineup for the 2023 World Cup is Ravichandran Ashwin. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have bowled well thus far in the competition. Therefore, it is logical to include another spinner in the group.
Washington Sundar or another spinner might be introduced to the team to add depth since there will be another spinner in the lineup. He not only offers you a strong bowling option, but he is also an excellent hitter. It is important to remember that, if necessary, he may bat up the order.
We might see someone like Washington Sundar selected for the squad for the remaining matches of the World Cup if the Indian team decides to add a little more batting steel to the side. On the other hand, Sundar recently won the Deodhar Trophy after picking up three wickets against East Zone in the final match while defending 239 runs. The teams Sundar plays for high value his ability to bowl during a powerplay and his bat-power talents.
Read more: Virat Kohli’s Highest Scores In ODI
2. Shivam Dube
A like-for-like substitute for Hardik Pandya may be Shivam Dube. Even though he hasn’t played in many games, he is a seam-bowling option. He can, however, hit hard with the bat and bowl effectively against Indian pitches.
Dube just represented India at the Asian Games 2023 and performed admirably. With the recent Ireland T20I series, the pace-bowling all-rounder recently returned to team India. Additionally, he was a member of the Indian team that took home the gold at the Asian Games in 2023 in China.
Under MS Dhoni, Dube has substantially improved as a player and can contribute a few overs. Shivam Dube stands out among Indian cricket players in several ways. He is expected to be a six-hit specialist because of his tank-like build, greater height than most top-order batters, lack of footwork, reliance mostly on brute force, and lack of footwork.
3. Tilak Verma
In the previous two IPL seasons, Tilak Verma has been incredibly impressive for the Mumbai Indians. He has already represented India in ODI and T20I cricket since receiving his first call-up to the national team earlier this year. He may be a wise Hardik Pandya replacement for the remaining World Cup matches despite his extreme left-fieldness.
If Pandya is ruled out of the World Cup, Verma will represent the Indian middle order’s X factor, something Pandya lacks. He is a capable sideline bowler and has some explosiveness with the bat. Verma is favored since no batter in the current Indian lineup can bowl a few overs.
Tilak Varma’s efforts in the West Indies in August 2023 earned him a spot in the 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, but he was not chosen for the 15-man shortlist for the ICC ODI World Cup later this year. Against West Indies at Tarouba, the 20-year-old made his T20I debut for India, scoring a quickfire 39 runs off just 22 balls. West Indies defeated India by only four runs.
