India, Jan. 4 -- Hardik Pandya's value to India has never been in doubt. His availability, though, has. Across the last few seasons, India have repeatedly had to plan white-ball squads knowing Pandya can miss stretches through injury or workload management.

That recurring uncertainty is why the Hardik substitute conversation matters. It isn't about finding a carbon copy. It is about protecting India's team balance when the seam bowling all-rounder slot suddenly opens up.

Pandya's slot is a two-in-one job: late-order hitting that lifts the tempo, and seam over that stops the XI from becoming one bowler short. Remove him, and captains often have to pick between depth and bowling coverage.

On paper, Nitish Kumar Reddy is once o the few In...