India will host the 50-over ODI World Cup later this year.
With nearly 10 months to go for the marquee event, former India opener Gautam Gambhir has said that the team must prioritise finding a replacement for seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
"They need to quickly identify a back-up for Hardik; if something happens to him, India will be in serious, serious trouble," ESPNcricinfo quoted Gambhir as saying on 'Road To World Cup Glory', a show on Star Sports that will be aired in full after the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka.
Hardik has only recently regained his bowling fitness after struggling with a back injury for the past few years. The upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka, in which he will play the role of a deputy, will be his first 50-over assignment since July 2022.
According to ex-India cricketer Irfan Pathan, Hardik's backup does not have to be a seam-bowling all-rounder since the World Cup will be played in India.
"In these conditions, you're allowed to have two spinning allrounders. Guys like Washy [Washington Sundar], Akshar [Patel], [Ravindra] Jadeja, and most importantly Deepak Hooda also [should be] in your scheme of things. Because he's a batter; he just took four wickets in the New Zealand series. He [Hooda] needs to get a long run," he said.
Irfan believes Umran Malik will give India's pace attack an edge, especially on flat tracks where the ball may not seam much.
"He's a guy who can give you extra pace and bounce, he's my guy. Avesh Khan can also be someone who can get bounce even on show pitches. You need guys who can give a little extra on such wickets," he opined.
(With ANI inputs)