New Delhi, 18 October (H.S.): Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the team management spends too much time searching for a replacement for Hardik Pandya, arguing that a player of the all-rounder’s calibre cannot simply be replaced. He said that if India cannot find another player with similar abilities, the team should instead develop someone capable of performing a different role.

Gavaskar also shared his views on the lessons India could draw from the T20 series against the West Indies, Naman Dhir’s batting performance and the team’s spin-bowling combination.

During the JioStar programme ‘Higher Cricket Live’, Gavaskar joined former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, former batter Cheteshwar Pujara and cricket commentator Aakash Chopra to discuss the five-match T20 series. The fifth and decisive match between India and the West Indies, played in Bengaluru, was abandoned due to rain after only 7.4 overs of play, leaving the series level at 2-2.

Gavaskar said the abandoned match denied viewers an opportunity to assess India’s bowling performance in the shortened contest. He added that one of the key takeaways from the series was the need for India to field at least four specialist bowlers, with all-rounders capable of contributing with the bat taking responsibility as the fifth and sixth bowling options.

“We did not get an opportunity to see the bowling. It would have been interesting to see how the Indian bowlers performed in a nine-over contest. One lesson from this series is that India should go into matches with at least four specialist bowlers. The fifth and sixth bowling options can be all-rounders who are also capable of batting,” Gavaskar said.

He pointed out that players such as Naman Dhir were stronger with the bat but could also contribute two or three overs with the ball. Axar Patel, he added, was capable of completing his full quota of four overs.

“Sometimes, we become a little too preoccupied with finding a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Nobody can replace Hardik Pandya. If we cannot find a player with similar abilities, we should move forward with someone who can fulfil a slightly different role. Naman Dhir is doing exactly that. He has been bowling his overs well, and the way he batted in this match was also outstanding,” Gavaskar said.

The former captain cautioned against weakening the bowling attack merely to extend the batting line-up to No. 8. He said compromising the bowling resources to accommodate additional batting depth could leave the team vulnerable.

“When you compromise on your bowling to ensure that your batting extends to No. 8, you weaken the team, and that can ultimately lead to defeat,” he said.

### Pujara Impressed by Naman Dhir’s Explosive Batting

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara praised Naman Dhir for his unbeaten 24 off just six deliveries in the fifth T20I against the West Indies.

Pujara said Dhir’s composure and ability to score rapidly under pressure stood out, particularly given the limited number of deliveries available in the rain-affected contest.

“The ease with which he is batting is remarkable. He faced six deliveries and took a single off only two of them, hitting boundaries and sixes off the others. In a match reduced to nine overs, his strike rate was 400. Coming in under those circumstances and looking to hit a boundary or a six off almost every delivery requires considerable preparation,” Pujara said.

He added that although Dhir made the task appear effortless, batting in such a situation was far from easy.

“When you watch him bat, it seems as though he makes everything look simple, but it is not. When you come in to bat at that stage of the innings, there is no time to think. Scoring 24 runs off just five or six deliveries is an outstanding effort,” Pujara said.

### Abhishek Nayar Says 2-2 Draw Was a Fair Result

Abhishek Nayar described the 2-2 series result as fair, noting that both teams had played high-quality cricket throughout the five-match contest.

“Considering how the series unfolded, I think a 2-2 result was appropriate in many ways because both teams played very good cricket. It would have been unfortunate if the outcome of the entire series had been decided by a nine-over match. Both teams gave their best, and the 2-2 result reflects how closely contested the series was,” Nayar said.

He added that the series had not been an easy one for India on home soil and that the West Indies had plenty of reason to take pride in their performance.

Nayar acknowledged that India would have backed themselves to win the shortened contest, but said a drawn series was nevertheless a fitting conclusion to a competitive contest between the two sides.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar