With a year to go until the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, the Indian men’s cricket team is struggling to find a suitable all-rounder who can potentially replace Hardik Pandya, who has struggled with frequent injuries.
Yes, competition is tough in the Indian team for batters, bowlers and even wicketkeepers, and selectors often face the difficult task of deciding whom to pick for bilateral series and marquee competitions. However, when it comes to seam-bowling all-rounders, they have far fewer options to choose from.
Since his debut 10 years ago, the Hardik Pandya has made a strong impact in white-ball cricket, establishing himself as an important player for India. Although the team has played without him on several occasions, the balance he provides with his seam bowling and power-hitting is difficult for any other Indian all-rounder to replicate.
In 94 ODIs, Hardik Pandya has scored 1,904 runs and picked up 91 wickets. While those numbers may not appear extraordinary at the highest level, his ability to adapt to different situations and contribute according to the team’s needs makes him a valuable player.
His numbers in T20Is are also impressive, with 2,288 runs and 114 wickets in 138 matches.
The 32-year-old has neither scored a century nor taken a five-wicket haul in limited-overs cricket for India, but the Indian team has still struggled to find a like-for-like replacement for him.
With the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup scheduled to be played across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, India will need the services of a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder if they are to build a well-balanced squad for the tournament.
Playing bilateral series without Pandya does not necessarily affect the team combination significantly, as spin-bowling all-rounders can provide balance. However, in multinational tournaments, squad combinations can play a pivotal role.
The conditions, particularly in South Africa, can offer pace and bounce, making the presence of a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder even more valuable.
Seaming All-Rounders Tried by India in the Absence of Hardik Pandya in ODIs
1. Venkatesh Iyer
Following his impressive IPL campaign in 2021 and subsequent domestic season, the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder made his ODI debut against South Africa in Paarl in January 2022.
However, his underwhelming performances with both bat and ball saw him lose his place in the team. He scored only 24 runs and went wicketless across two matches.
After that, he played six T20Is for India, but the selectors eventually moved on from him as an option.
2. Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube was never really a like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya, but he was brought into the Indian ODI team in the latter’s absence.
Dube made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Chennai in 2019. Seven years later, he has played only six ODIs, including two matches during India’s tour of England in 2026.
Dube is primarily a batting all-rounder and has not established himself as a reliable bowling option, which has contributed to his limited opportunities in ODI cricket.
3. Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy is young and has already shown immense promise across formats for India. However, he is still a work in progress and is yet to fully establish himself at the highest level, particularly in ODIs.
If the Indian management is considering him as a potential replacement for Hardik Pandya, there is still plenty of work to be done. He was dropped after the first ODI against the West Indies.
He made his ODI debut against Australia in Perth last year and has made seven appearances in the format so far. He has scored 100 runs, including a half-century, and picked up three wickets.
There is no doubt that he has the talent, but with the World Cup only a year away, India may need more proven performances from him before he can be considered a reliable replacement for Pandya.
4. Auqib Nabi
The 29-year-old Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder made his international debut in the second ODI against the West Indies at Guwahati.
His debut turned into a difficult outing as he conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs without taking a wicket, recording an economy rate of 9.51. He did not get an opportunity to bat as India successfully chased down the target.
Looking at his gentle seam-up bowling, there is plenty of room for improvement, and it remains too early to consider him an ideal candidate to replace Hardik Pandya in marquee events.
Hardik Pandya has not featured in a game since IPL 2026, providing an opportunity for other all-rounders to showcase their skill sets. However, at the moment, India are yet to find a player who can replicate the balance he provides.
