Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has observed that Team India sometimes get too caught up in the search for a like-for-like replacement for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, a pursuit he believes is fundamentally misguided. Speaking on JioStar while analysing the T20I series against the West Indies, Gavaskar argued that India should instead focus on building a balanced bowling attack and accept that Pandya's profile is simply irreplaceable.

The Series Backdrop

The West Indies' wait for a first bilateral series win in India since 2002 goes on, as the final T20I in Bengaluru was washed out after just 46 balls of the India innings. The truncated series did, however, serve as a useful audition for India's fringe players, with Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, and Naman Dhir all making cases for extended consideration.

Gavaskar's Key Advice on Bowling Balance

'We sometimes get a little bit carried away with trying to find a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya is irreplaceable. If you can't find somebody of his calibre, then go with somebody who will do a slightly different job,' Gavaskar said.

He emphasised that India need at least four full-time bowlers in their T20I line-up, with a fifth and sixth slot reserved for all-rounders who can contribute with the bat. 'A fifth bowler and a sixth can be your all-rounders, somebody who can bat as well,' he noted. He cited Axar Patel — capable of bowling his full four overs — as the kind of option India should build around. Going too deep with batting, Gavaskar warned, inevitably weakens the bowling and is 'where you get beaten.'

Naman Dhir: The Tour's Standout Find

Naman Dhir emerged as arguably the most eye-catching performer of the series. In the rain-curtailed 9-over game in Bengaluru, Dhir smashed three sixes off just six balls, helping India reach 118/5 at the 7.4-over mark before rain halted proceedings. Prior to that explosive cameo, it had been his off-spin that had generated the stronger impression throughout the tour.

'Naman Dhir is doing that job. He's bowling his overs well, and look at the way he batted in this game. So, that is what India need to do because the moment you go with batting up to number eight, you weaken your bowling,' Gavaskar said.

The Broader Selection Challenge

Gavaskar's remarks reflect a wider debate within Indian cricket circles about how the team approaches the all-rounder conundrum. Hardik Pandya, at his best, offers genuine pace bowling capable of touching 140+ kmph alongside explosive lower-order hitting — a combination that no current candidate replicates. Rather than chasing that combination, Gavaskar advocates a pragmatic split: a specialist spinner like Axar Patel to anchor the bowling, and a batter-leaning all-rounder like Dhir to provide lower-order firepower. This recalibration, he suggests, is more sustainable for India's T20I structure going forward.