Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said that the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya feels pressure when he is playing as the third seamer, so he is against that idea at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Team India is set to face Afghanistan in their second match in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, October 11, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium. In the last match, three centuries were scored by the South African batters on the way to 428 runs.

Given that, Manjrekar believes Shardul Thakur or Mohammad Shami should replace R Ashwin in India's playing XI against Afghanistan if there is a flat surface in Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.

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Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports: “My view is that, unless there is a compelling reason, I don't like Hardik Pandya as your third seamer. I think he also feels the pressure if he is the third seamer. 

What is likely to happen is that if the pitch is similar to the one that we had in that South Africa-Sri Lanka game, which was a belter, there was nothing there for the spinners, I don't see Ashwin playing on that surface. India will add more batting depth unless they feel that they will get in pace quality against Afghanistan on this flat pitch.”

Manjrekar signed off by saying, “But they have shown their cards very early coming into the World Cup. They are not very keen to go one batter short. Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami is the change that I see if that's the same surface that we get in Delhi.”

(With India Today/PTI Inputs)