Australia vs India, ODI series, 2018-19: The impact of Hardik Pandya's absence on the team composition

The show that got Pandya and Rahul into trouble
The show that got Pandya and Rahul into trouble

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are on the verge of suspension after their inappropriate remarks on the talk show Koffee with Karan. For starters, they are out of tomorrow’s first ODI at Sydney, pending investigation.

This has come as a real shock to the Indian cricket team on the eve of the three-match ODI series against Australia. Though the absence of an out-of-form Rahul might not affect the team composition much, the absence of Hardik Pandya will definitely have an impact on the overall composition of the team.

Had Pandya stayed away from controversy, he would have been the best seam-bowling all-rounder for India going into the One-Day series against Australia. Now there is no like-for-like replacement for Pandya either in the squad or back home. While players like Irfan Pathan, Stuart Binny, and Rishi Dhawan are history, someone like a Vijay Shankar or a Shivam Dube are just starting out on their career.

The only other option left in the present squad is spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. When Jadeja replaced the injured Hardik Pandya midway through the Asia Cup, it came as a blessing-in-disguise as he proved to be the most effective all-rounder on sub-continental wickets. But here in Australia, the conditions are different and the team would be better off with a fast-bowling all-rounder like Pandya.

Jadeja, though a different kind of all-rounder, is still the best option to replace Hardik Pandya
Jadeja, though a different kind of all-rounder, is still the best option to replace Hardik Pandya

Having said that, in all likelihood, Jadeja might replace Pandya in tomorrow’s match. This rules out the possibility of India playing two wrist-spinners as they cannot afford to go in with 3 spinners. On the other hand, if India choose to play Yuzvendra Chahal for Jadeja, that would weaken the team both in batting and fielding.

Had Pandya been available, India would have further strengthened their batting by playing both the all-rounders Pandya and Jadeja. That would have been the best way forward for India not only in the current series but also for the forthcoming World Cup. But now with the inept conduct of Pandya, that option has gone out of the window for the time being.

The absence of Hardik Pandya would certainly bring both Mohammed Shami and Khaleel Ahmed into the reckoning. In Pandya’s presence, either one of Khaleel or Shami will get an opportunity to fill up the void created by the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Now that Pandya is unavailable for selection, both Khaleel and Shami are in the reckoning to back up Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Even Mohammed Siraj has an outside chance of making it to the playing XI.

After the recent unwarranted developments, the Indian bowling attack might be in the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. Kedar Jadhav would be the sixth bowling option against the Aussie batsmen.

On the eve of the first ODI, the Indian team management has a lot to ponder over to arrive at the best team composition. It also remains to be seen whether the off-field mishaps would affect the overall morale of the team on the field. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in a way would narrow down the gap between the two teams since Australia will be once again without David Warner and Steve Smith.

The first ODI between the two sides will take place on January 12 in Sydney.

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Edited by Rajdeep Puri