Table of Contents
The Indian cricket team is surrounded by multiple unanswered questions after the 4-0 T20I defeat against England. One of the main concerns for the team to concern is the all-rounders.
Over the years, Hardik Pandya has served the team relentlessly across the white-ball formats. As he is injured, the pace-bowling all-rounder is out of the selection process. The Indian team management needs to find someone proper who could be the replacement for Hardik Pandya.
Wasim Jaffer rules out Shivam Dube as Hardik Pandya's replacement
Shivam Dube, who played over 70 T20Is for the India National Cricket Team, was positioned as the future star for the team. The recently concluded T20I contest cast uncertainty over his future, as he barely did anything significant with bat and ball.
Former Team India opener Wasim Jaffer also believed that the time has come for the team to think beyond Shivam Dube. According to Jaffer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Suryansh Shedge are the two potential candidates who could become the like-for-like substitute for Hardik Pandya.
“If you're looking for a like-for-like replacement who can bowl two or three overs and also contribute with the bat, then, in my opinion, Nitish Reddy and Suryansh Shedge fit that role. Shivam Dube isn't as capable with the ball. He probably isn't the first option you'd turn to if you need someone to bowl. But I think Nitish Reddy and perhaps Suryansh Shedge are the first two names you would look at whenever Hardik isn't available,” Wasim Jaffer opined during a discussion on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer Official.
Wasim Jaffer asks Shivam Dube to improve fielding standards
The 48-year-old also noted that Dube’s fielding work was not up to the mark. Jaffer asked the all-rounder to improve his fielding standards as well.
“One area he (Shivam Dube) needs to improve is his fielding. That's one issue with him. He's a bit weak in the field, and you often have to hide him while fielding. So, I think he needs to raise his fielding standards. He's been playing for India for quite some time now,” the former cricketer mentioned in the same video.
Suryansh Shedge as Hardik Pandya's replacement?
Like the 33-year-old all-rounder, Suryansh Shedge, who is only 23, made his debut against Ireland in T20Is, but was also not effective with bat and ball. But Wasim Jaffer observed that the emerging all-rounder had shown a lot of potential through his bowling variations. Additionally, during the IPL and while batting for the India A cricket team, Shedge also displayed his batting skills.
“Suryansh Shedge, I think he has the potential. You can see that he has variations in his bowling, and he is capable with the bat as well. He can hit the ball hard. They've given Suryansh Shedge an opportunity, and I just feel that he has the potential. They should continue backing him,” Wasim Jaffer further opined.
