Former India opener, Gautam Gambhir reckons that Virat Kohli and his men will keep facing the problem of finding the right balance in the squad till they find a suitable replacement for a half-fit Hardik Pandya as his nearest competitor Vijay Shankar is not of same level. Currently, Pandya is playing in the XI currently as a specialist batsman and is not sure when he will be fit to bowl in ODIs. India lost to Australia by 66 runs in a high-scoring series opener in which the visitors missed a sixth bowling option.

Asked if there is a problem of balance, Gautam Gambhir agreed to it, as per the quotes in ESPNCricinfo, Gambhir said,  “Big time and this has been happening what — since the last World Cup. If Hardik is not fit (to bowl), where is your sixth bowling option. It’s only Vijay Shankar that I can think of but does he have the same impact batting at No 5 or 6. Can he give you seven or 8 overs, I have my doubts.”

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According to Gambhir, this is the kind of problem that can’t be sorted even if an opener of Rohit Sharma’s caliber misses in the squad. 

Gautam Gambhir explained, “You can talk (about) putting in Manish Pandey, even if and when Rohit Sharma comes back in the XI, the problem you are facing now you will be facing then. There is no one in the top six who can actually give you a couple of overs.”

While Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are already in the playing XI as pace and spin bowling all-rounders respectively, Australia has a number of back-up men with multiple skill-sets, including rookie Cameron Green, who can be expected to make his international debut.

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Talking about the Australian team, Gambhir said, “And if you see the Australian side, there is Moises Henrqiues, who can give you a couple of overs, there is Sean Abbott who is bowling all-rounder. They have Daniel Sams who can both bowl and bat. “From the Indian point of view, if Hardik is unfit where is the replacement?”