Hardik Pandya could play as specialist batter, Ashwin likely in IND vs ENG clash

Unbeaten in five games, India Cricket Team will travel to Lucknow after a two-day break. While Hardik Pandya is likely to come in, it could take another game to get him fit to bowl 7-8 overs. That could mean Hardik Pandya play as a specialist batter in IND vs ENG game. But with Lucknow pitch likely to assist spinners, India could bring in Ravichandran Ashwin. But Rohit Sharma will have a big decision to make on whom to drop for the India vs England Cricket World Cup clash on Sunday.

Hardik Pandya missed the IND vs NZ clash with a sprained ankle. He was sent to the NCA where he is undergoing treatment. There is still a question mark over Hardik’s bowling even if he returns on Sunday.

“Hardik is under the NCA’s observation. It is not a concern. He only had a sprain and we are hopeful he will be fit by Wednesday or Thursday. Even as a batter he is too valuable. Whether he can bowl at a regular pace will depend on his condition,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.

With Hardik absent from the IND vs NZ clash, India opted for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammad Shami. While SKY flopped, Shami has made it difficult for the team management to drop him with a fifer against the Kiwis.

There are two scenarios:

Scenario 1: No special assistance to spinners

• Hardik fully fit: Hardik comes in, Suryakumar Yadav is dropped. Shami partners Jasprit Bumrah in IND vs ENG clash.
• Hardik unfit: If Hardik stays unfit, SKY and Shami both will retain their place.

Scenario 2: Slow, spin-friendly pitch

Hardik fully fit: Hardik comes in, Ashwin replaces Siraj. Shami retains his place.

Hardik unfit: SKY retains his place, Ashwin replaces Siraj.

Shami or Siraj for IND vs ENG

While Jasprit Bumrah is a certainty, the pitch will decide whether India will go for three spinners or three seamers. If the pitch is a tad bit slow, India will bring back Ashwin. Else, Siraj-Shami-Bumrah will be India’s attack.

But if Ashwin comes in, who goes out? So far, the decision was simple. Ashwin would replace Shardul Thakur if the pitch is spin-friendly. But now, Shami with a fifer has complicated things.

If Hardik Pandya is fit and back for IND vs ENG clash, and India require three spinners, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will have to take a call on whom to drop.

Mohammed Siraj is the World No 1 ODI bowler while Mohammad Shami bagged a five-wicket haul against New Zealand. It won’t be an easy decision to make. But either of the two will be dropped. Else, India will be a bowling-heavy side.

Even though Ashwin has been an excellent batter in red-ball cricket, he hasn’t established himself as a white-ball batter. And that to play all three seamers, India will only have batting up to No 6.

India Squad for Cricket World Cup 2023

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav

WKs: Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (VC)

Seam all-rounders: Shardul Thakur

Spin all-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin

Seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Spinner: Kuldeep Yadav