Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has advised the Indian team management to look for someone with a different skill set instead of directly looking for a like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya.
Notably, Hardik hasn’t played any professional game since the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season due to recurring injuries. In Hardik’s absence, India tried out Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge.
Speaking to JioStar after the five-match T20I series against the West Indies in Bengaluru, the former Indian captain asserted that Hardik Pandya has been irreplaceable and the team management should instead look for players with a different skill set.
“We sometimes get a little bit carried away with trying to find a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya is irreplaceable. If you can’t find somebody of his calibre, then go with somebody who will do a slightly different job,” Gavaskar told JioStar.
“Naman Dhir is doing that job. He’s bowling his overs well, and look at the way he batted in this game,” he added.
Further, Gavaskar requested the Indian team management to have more specialist bowling options instead of having batting till No. 8. Notably, his comments came right after the West Indies T20I series ended 2-2 at home.
“The moment you go with batting up to number eight, you weaken your bowling, and that’s where you get beaten. The takeaway from the series is that, in their bowling, they have to play with at least four regular bowlers. A fifth bowler and a sixth can be your all-rounders, somebody who can bat as well,” he concluded.
