Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy Substitutes India Has Before 2027 World Cup

Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube [Source: AFP]

India have been dealt another blow to their all-rounder stocks ahead of the T20I series against Ireland and England. In-form Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of United Kingdom with a quadriceps injury.

With Hardik Pandya already sidelined due to a quadriceps strain and workload management, India find themselves stripped of their two primary fast-bowling all-rounders.

This double injury crisis reopens a familiar wound: India's persistent lack of depth in the pace-bowling all-rounder department. As the BCCI searches for solutions, we evaluate the remaining youth and veteran options available for the upcoming ODI series.

As 2027 World Cup approaches, India can not play with fire as far as the fast bowling all-rounder option is concerned. So, in this article, let’s take a look at the other options India have in the ODI setup apart from Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Fast Bowling All Rounders India Has Besides Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy Before 2027 World Cup

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur remains one of India's most capable utility cricketers, and his recent momentum has pushed him back into the spotlight.

Notably, Shardul Thakur impressed with his performances in IPL 2026, taking three wickets in Mumbai Indians’ opening match and continuing his stellar form throughout the tournament. He ended the season with 12 wickets in seven innings and scored 24 runs in three innings.

Meanwhile, for India, the 34-year-old has featured in 47 ODI matches, scalping 65 wickets at an economy rate of 6.22. However, the last time he was seen donning the Indian jersey in the ODI setup was during the IND vs BAN ODI series in 2023.

Hence, with the unavailability of Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy, India can certainly look towards Shardul Thakur as a viable option.

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Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube has been a regular member of India’s T20I setup; however, he has failed to cement his place in the 50-over format. While India backed Nitish Kumar Reddy as a potential successor to Hardik Pandya, Dube has also shown glimpses of his ability as an all-rounder.

Although Dube has limited ODI experience for India, having played four matches, scoring 43 runs and taking one wicket, he was unable to make the most of his opportunities. The last time he featured in ODIs was during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2024.

However, Dube possesses the ability to counter-spin effectively and is also an aggressive six-hitter. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, his height allows him to generate useful bounce, giving him the valuable ability to break partnerships with his right-arm medium-pace bowling.

India can also consider him as an option, as he can finish matches under pressure and provide a useful bowling alternative apart from Pandya and Reddy in upcoming bilateral series.

Suryansh Shedge

The 23-year-old Suryansh Shedge from Mumbai has impressed with his all-round skills in the recent Tri-Series in Sri Lanka.

Notably, although he is yet to make his India debut, he has shown his potential with both bat and ball. In the Tri-Series, he scored 144 runs in five innings. 

With the ball, he picked up two wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 6.04. While the statistics may not fully reflect the situations and pressure he faced, it is important to note that he remained economical and adapted his batting according to the team’s requirements.

Meanwhile, for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, he played several crucial knocks, scoring 158 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 175.56, with a highest score of 57.

If the BCCI invests in his development and provides him with opportunities, he could emerge as one of India’s promising fast-bowling all-rounders in the ODI setup.

Madhav Tiwari

Madhav Tiwari, who recently made his IPL debut this season, impressed with four wickets in three innings for Delhi Capitals. Notably, he showcased his match-winning abilities with several impactful spells.

Although he is yet to represent India at any level, he has performed consistently in the MP T20 League over the last two years. In the 2026 edition, he picked up 13 wickets in nine innings. With the bat, he was equally impressive, scoring 270 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 168.95.

Notably, the 22-year-old is yet to play a domestic match for the Madhya Pradesh senior team. The seam-bowling all-rounder fits the modern-day requirements, as he has the ability to bowl both with the new ball and at the death. Additionally, he possesses a variety of bowling variations that make him a valuable asset.

Shashank Singh

Shashank Singh has impressed with his all-round abilities in recent IPL seasons. However, the 34-year-old all-rounder is yet to break into India’s ODI setup.

While he is yet to make his international debut for India, he has scored 905 runs in 42 IPL matches at a strike rate of 161.60. In the 2024 season, Shashank produced a match-winning masterclass against Gujarat Titans, smashing an unbeaten 61* off just 29 balls to guide his team to a thrilling final-over victory.

Notably, Shashank has proven himself as a reliable clutch player who inspires confidence when the chips are down.

With India constantly hunting for big-hitting finishers who can handle pressure, the national selectors would do well to look at the experienced all-rounder as a potent long-term option.

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