3 players who could benefit most from Hardik Pandya’s absence

Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan after a leg niggle disrupted his rehabilitation. He had been bowling at full intensity during his recovery but was advised to pause, leaving him short of the required fitness levels.

Pandya has not played competitive cricket since captaining Mumbai Indians in the IPL on May 24, 2026. His continued absence has prompted the selectors to consider multiple all-rounder options, with the three T20Is against Afghanistan scheduled at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, beginning September 13, 2026.

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy is widely regarded as the most natural successor to Pandya in India’s T20I setup. The Sunrisers Hyderabad seam-bowling all-rounder showed considerable improvement with the ball during IPL 2026, developing a knack for picking up important wickets at crucial moments. In IPL 2026, he scored 302 runs at a strike rate of 171.59 and claimed eight wickets.

Reddy is part of India’s Afghanistan T20I squad after missing the last few series due to injury. In the first T20I, he didn’t get to bat and conceded 30 runs with the ball.

2. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube has not been a regular bowling option for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, but the story in the Indian team is different, especially since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach in 2024. Dube is bowling considerably more than before. Pandya’s absence from T20Is is expected to bring Dube more bowling opportunities at the international level.

In the first T20I, Dube gave away 21 runs in one over. However, he didn’t bowl a single over during the innings before that and was brought in to bowl the 20th. Dube didn’t get to bat, just like Reddy.

1. Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana is primarily a seam bowler whose batting has developed to a point where he offers genuine lower-order value. With Pandya absent, the all-rounder role in the pace department becomes more open, and Rana’s improved batting makes him a more complete option than before.

Also Read: AFG vs IND 2026: 2nd T20I Match Preview

Should he recover from his current injury in time for the 2026 Asian Games, his seam-bowling contributions could prove valuable in that format as well. Like Reddy, Rana was a part of India’s Afghanistan T20I squad on the condition that he receives fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he failed to recover in time and was replaced by Yash Thakur.