Hardik’s injury poses one headache, three options, zero right answers

Every team in the current ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 have at least one player they cannot afford to lose. In a few teams, there is more than one such player, which makes this debate interesting. In India’s case, Kuldeep Yadav, in current form, and Jasprit Bumrah - the greatest fast bowler the country has ever produced- will throw their hat in the mix for this discussion. But no other player is as irreplaceable without a significant downgrade on potential and resulting balance as Hardik Pandya.  

That is why when Hardik walked off with discomfort in his left ankle after an attempt to stop the ball in his follow-through in the 9th over of India’s game against Bangladesh, there was palpable nervousness about the consequences. Though India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, confirmed no major damage, Hardik was flown to the NCA in Bengaluru. He will not join the team in Dharamshala for the clash against New Zealand on Sunday, October 22

This presents India with one headache, three potential options, and zero right answers. Let us look at the different combinations India can try in their game against New Zealand-

Option 1- Replace Hardik with Mohammed Shami

So far in the tournament, India have not needed Hardik the batter. He has essentially played as a bowler. Even his usage has been such that before the game against Bangladesh, he was bowling a lot more overs than Shardul Thakur, relegating him to the designated sixth bowler.

When Hardik walked off three balls into his first over, Rohit was forced to use Shardul much more. With figures of 1/59 off his nine overs, it is fair to say Shardul did not really set the stage on fire. However, India’s choke through spin and Bangladesh’s outdated batting meant India did not miss a sixth bowler.

In Dharamshala, New Zealand will not be as much of a pushover as Bangladesh proved to be. Any weak link will be exploited. And India’s spinners too, will come against a team with batters like Devon Conway and Tom Latham, who are among the best players of spin. 

This might mean Rohit will need a cushion on the bowling front. Among all the venues in the World Cup so far, the pacers have had the best bowling average in the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala. This might further add to the merit of including Shami in the XI.

However, this will mean India will have Ravindra Jadeja at number six and Shardul at number seven. Jadeja has not scored a half-century in ODIs since 2020. And Shardul’s career average is 17.3. Though India have not needed any batter below number five in their four games so far, New Zealand’s attack with helpful conditions might present a tougher challenge and can expose India’s weaker underbelly. 

Option 2- Replace Hardik with Ravichandran Ashwin

It is not just pace that has been booming in Dharamshala. In a venue with help for all kinds of bowlers; even spinners have had a say, averaging only second-best after Lucknow.

This brings the option of adding Ravichandran Ashwin to the mix as well. He played India’s first game against Australia on the helpful deck in Chennai and ensured that even Hardik, the bowler, was not needed that day. 

New Zealand will most likely start with five left-handers in their top eight. This also makes a strong case for Ashwin’s inclusion. Though, as mentioned earlier, a few of these left-handers are excellent players of spin. 

However, Ashwin’s inclusion will not really solve India’s issue of a weak batting line-up. It will mean a cushion of having him at number eight but with Jadeja and Shardul still above him. Though Ashwin has five Test tons and finished that epic game against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup last year, he has averaged a meager 16.4 in ODIs.

Option 3 - Replace Hardik with SKY and Shardul with Shami

With the sort of value that Hardik adds to the XI, any team will need two changes even to come close to filling the gap. Hence, the one way in which can field the best XI men against New Zealand is by including Surya Kumar Yadav and also replacing Shardul with a more genuine frontline option in Shami. 

With Mohammed Siraj not being at his best, this might also ensure India are keeping their options open for the later stages. 

However, this will mean India will have four tailenders in the XI. Also, if a situation like Hardik against Bangladesh arose, there would not be an option even to finish the quota of overs. 

So these are the three exhaustive options. And as said earlier, none of them is an obvious right answer. Both India and New Zealand are yet to lose a game in the World Cup so far. The winner of this game will have one foot in the semi-final. One might say this makes the contest even, given New Zealand are already their skipper without Kane Williamson. But let's face it, in terms of the critical role for the team, Williamson is no Hardik Pandya.