Ind vs Aus: No sixth bowling option in Pandya's absence since 2019 WC, says Gambhir

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes that the lack of a sixth bowling option is hurting Virat Kohli's side and he also threw light on how there is a lack of fast-bowling all-round options.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes that the lack of a sixth bowling option is hurting Virat Kohli's side and he also threw light on how there is a lack of fast-bowling all-round options. Gambhir gave his remark as India stumbled to a 66-run loss against Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series on Friday. Aaron Finch's side scored 374/6 in the fifty overs while India was restricted to 308/8.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Navdeep Saini conceded more than 80 runs in their quota of ten overs, and not having a sixth bowling option hurt India as Virat Kohli had to return to his main five-bowlers even when they were leaking runs. "It has been happening since the last World Cup, if Hardik Pandya is not fit bowl, then where is your sixth bowling option? Even if Rohit Sharma comes back into the lineup, the problem you are facing now, you will face the same going ahead. There is no one in top six who can give you a couple of overs," Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo.

"If you see the Australian side, they have got Moises Henriques who can give you a couple of overs, they have Sean Abbott who is a bowling all-rounder. If you talk about India, if Hardik Pandya is unfit then where is your sixth bowling option? I can only think of Vijay Shankar as the other all-rounder, does he have the same impact batting at number five-six, and can he give you eight-nine overs? I have my doubts," he added. All-rounder Pandya scored 90 runs in the first ODI and after the conclusion of the match, he admitted that will only bowl once he returns to full fitness. India had tried Vijay Shankar as an option in the 2019 World Cup, and after that, the side has been reluctant to try him out consistently in white-ball format.

"It is a process. I am looking at a long-term goal where I want to be 100 percent of my bowling capacity for the most important games. The World Cups are coming. More crucial series is coming. Whenever it is required," Pandya had said in a virtual press-conference after the match. "I am thinking like a long-term plan, not short term where I exhaust myself and maybe have something else [injury] which is not there. So it is going to be a process, which I am following. I can't tell you exactly when I am going to bowl but the process is on. In the nets, I am bowling. It is just that I am not game-ready but I am bowling. It is all about confidence and the skill has to be at an international level," he added.

India and Australia will now lock horns in the second ODI on Sunday. (ANI)

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