Can Hardik match Yuvraj's all-round impact this time?

Pandya’s batting at No. 6 and his incisive pace bowling will be key for India’s World Cup title aspirations

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

In cricket, all-rounders don’t come dime a dozen, and often they have proved to be the difference at ICC ODI World Cups.

Ben Stokes’s exploits in England’s 2019 triumph (batting average 66.42, 7 wickets) are fresh in memory. The last time India hosted the mega event in 2011, Yuvraj Singh was the decisive factor in the victory, emerging Player-of-the-Tournament (batting average 90.50, 15 wickets).

In 1983, Kapil Dev led India from the front with outstanding efforts (average 60.60, 12 wickets). In 1987, young all-rounder Steve Waugh’s inspired form (55.66, 11 wickets) helped Australia triumph. In 1992, Pakistan skipper Imran Khan chipped in with bat and ball (30.83, 7 wickets). All this is proof of genuine all-rounders giving their teams a distinct advantage, providing batting depth and a vital bowling option.

With the game evolving, in 2023 you are likely to find most teams base their strategy on aggressive batting throughout the innings. Having all-rounders gives the cushion against a top-order collapse, to keep going hard till the end.

In search of this balance, India have picked Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel; England have Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone (Stokes will play only as a batter due to knee problem); Australia are loaded with powerful batters who bowl - Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.