Asia Cup 2018: Why Hardik Pandya's injury is a blessing in disguise for the Indian team
This year's Asia Cup has got underway and we are already done with the marquee clash between India and Pakistan. India dominated the proceedings right from ball one and there was only one clear winner. The Pakistanis clearly had an off day and it was as if they didn't even turn up for the all-important clash.
India have a lot of positives to take into the next game against Bangladesh. It is a 'Super Four' fixture.
One of the main plus points is the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar into form. Rohit Sharma scored a quick fifty and didn't let the Pakistani bowlers to settle in. However, India had to deal with a blow with Hardik Pandya sustaining an acute lower back spasm.
This incident occurred in the 18th over of the innings when Hardik was bowling. In his follow-through, he might have felt something in his lower back and then lay on the ground for a long time before he was stretchered off the field.
Having said that, this might not worry the Indian think-tank much as it gives them an opportunity to try out some new faces to fill in Hardik Pandya's place. His role in the team was always uncertain and there was no clarity over it. It didn't occur to me if he was a batsman who could roll over his arm a bit or a bowler who could hit a few runs.
Let's have a look at the players who might be brought in place of Hardik Pandya:
1. Manish Pandey
The swashbuckling batsman from Karnataka has been in a sensational run of form lately. He was unbeaten in the four innings that he played for India A and ended up scoring 308 runs. He is the fittest player in the Indian team, and, by far, the best fielder. He is a proper middle-order batsman and a bright No. 4 prospect. He has the ability to build an innings as well as finish it.
He is a livewire in the field. With the form that he is in right now, he might be an excellent choice because Kedar Jadhav is already proving his mettle as an all-rounder. With him in the team, I don't think that Hardik Pandya would be missed.