In a World Cup marred by adversity, Hardik Pandya’s ankle twist against Bangladesh in Pune threw the Indian team management into a quandary. Pandya’s all-round abilities added versatility to the squad, serving as the designated third-seamer and a finishing batsman.

This dual role afforded the luxury of playing R Ashwin, an extra spinner, or Shardul Thakur, a fourth fast bowling option, depending on pitch conditions. However, Pandya’s absence and Thakur’s underwhelming performance compelled the team to recall Mohammed Shami, which promptly boosted India’s bowling against New Zealand and England.

As the World Cup began, India’s top five batters lacked the capability to bowl 5-6 overs, a potential concern in case of an injury or an off day for a bowler. To address this gap and secure an extra lower-order batting option, the management opted for Thakur in the starting 11. However, in the three matches he played, Thakur neither bowled his full quota of overs nor had a chance to bat.

To accommodate this ‘insurance player,’ the team compromised the quality of the bowling attack by keeping Shami out, a decision that attracted criticism but was overlooked due to India’s winning streak.

Pandya’s injury compelled India to shift from their precautionary mindset and embrace playing five mainstream bowlers. Even on spin-friendly surfaces, the team stuck with the three-seamer, two-spinner combination.

Despite the challenges, Shami’s stellar performance with nine wickets in two matches alleviated the worry of Pandya’s absence. Nevertheless, India still possesses only five bowling options, with Virat Kohli expected to contribute a few overs in unforeseen situations.

Looking ahead, the main conundrum for the Indian management is the team composition upon Pandya’s return. Suryakumar Yadav’s contribution as No. 6 batsman and Shami’s irreplaceable form present a dilemma. Shreyas Iyer, struggling against short balls, might be the one to make way for Pandya, although the team management appears patient with Iyer’s development.

As the World Cup progresses, Team India will continue to navigate the challenges of balancing their squad while aiming for success.

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