2 weeks ago
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The Afghanistan ODI bid whitethorn person been framed arsenic different measurement successful India’s march towards the 2027 World Cup, but beneath the victories laic a much circumstantial objective: expanding the country’s all-rounder resources beyond the information broad of Hardik Pandya.
India has spent overmuch of the past decennary orbiting astir Hardik Pandya. He is not simply an all-rounder. He is simply a solution to respective problems astatine once: a middle-order hitter, a finisher, a seam-bowling option, and a balance-restorer.
His lack owed to a quadriceps strain handed the squad absorption an accidental to measure a scope of candidates. Nitish Kumar, on with spin-bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey, featured during the series, portion Harshit Rana returned to the squad aft a lengthy wounded layoff.
India's Washington Sundar successful enactment during the 2nd One-Day International cricket lucifer against Afghanistan astatine the Ekana Cricket Stadium successful Lucknow connected June 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Gurnoor Brar, meanwhile, showcased the pace, aggression and lower-order batting imaginable that person progressively attracted the selectors’ attention.
Assistant manager Ryan 10 Doeschate suggested that India’s readying extends good beyond identifying contiguous replacements.
“It (the all-rounder pool) is truly good. I would inactive accidental the bulk of those guys are bowling all-rounders. And erstwhile Hardik’s fit, helium evidently brings a antithetic constituent due to the fact that he’s specified a beardown batter and specified a beardown finisher. Sort of relation scarcity... it is hard to find a finisher who gives you overs arsenic well.
India's Gurnoor Brar successful enactment during the 2nd One-Day International (ODI) cricket lucifer against astatine the Ekana Cricket Stadium successful Lucknow connected June 17, 2026. s | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
“Those guys are each tracking truly nicely. With Nitish, for the past 18 months he’s shown glimpses of however important helium tin beryllium to this team, peculiarly successful this format. I consciousness his body’s getting stronger and stronger, and I benignant of consciousness helium is the earthy successor oregon backup to Hardik,” helium said.
Ten Doeschate’s comments revealed a broader accent connected lower-order batting depth, peculiarly with South African conditions successful mind.
Harsh Dubey during a signifier league up of the 2nd ODI cricket lucifer betwixt India and Afghanistan connected June 16, 2026 astatine the Ekana Stadium successful Lucknow. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
“Certainly, (it’s good) to spot these different guys chipping successful and moving connected their games — adjacent idiosyncratic similar Gurnoor and Harshit. They’re bowling all-rounders, but the information that we consciousness we’ve got guys who tin clasp the bat astatine No. 9... Obviously, looking guardant to the adjacent 14-15 months, that is going to beryllium precise important, particularly successful South Africa erstwhile you privation to play 3 seamers, 3 due out-and-out seamers,” helium said.
The bid highlighted the assortment wrong India’s all-rounder pool. Add Harshit’s return, and the options abruptly look plentiful. As 10 Doeschate enactment it: “All of a abrupt the cupboard seems precise full.”
With 2027 connected the horizon, that extent whitethorn beryllium arsenic invaluable arsenic immoderate idiosyncratic star. India is nary longer searching for 1 all-rounder. It is gathering a pool.
