- Need for an Extra Bowler:
These days with the game heavily biased in favour of the batsmen, it has become imperative to ensure that the bowling resources of a side remain competent enough throughout the 50-overs. Thus, having five bowlers alone cannot guarantee success alone, as even if one bowler has an off day, the entire side could falter in the bid to make up for the remaining overs.
Thus, the need for having the sixth bowler becomes paramount, and this is what Virat Kohli will have to address in the series. With Hardik Pandya batting at seven, India can go with five bowlers, which includes the medium fast stuff from Pandya.
It makes things a little tricky, as India make themselves rigid with just five bowling options, that too when their fifth bowler is an all-rounder and not a fulltime pacer. The series could further demonstrate the need to have Pandya bat at six and play a pure bowler for the near future, and if it does, India is bound for some serious headaches regarding the selection issues.
While skipper Virat Kohli does compare Pandya to Ben Stokes, the fact remains that Stokes bats at six, while Pandya a spot below at seven. It is an issue which needs to be addressed at the soonest for India.