'We have already found the player' - Saba Karim names Hardik Pandya's replacement in India's white-ball setup

India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been experiencing a rough patch in his career lately. He wasn’t able to fetch in impactful performances in the T20 World Cup 2021 and did not contribute much with the ball for both India and Mumbai Indians since his lower back injury in 2019. Thus, there have been discussions on his place in the Indian white-ball setup.

Former India cricketer Saba Karim has however named Pandya’s replacement in the team. He highlighted Venkatesh Iyer’s recent performances and pointed that he is a potential name who can fill in the fast-bowing all-rounder’s shoes for team India. Iyer fetched praises from all around the cricketing fraternity for his performances in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

More so recently he has exuded his flair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. Iyer has chipped in 348 runs from four matches and has also scalped eight wickets. Karim feels that with his splendid performances he can be the probable replacement of Pandya in white-ball cricket.

The former cricketer also suggested that the young Ruturaj Gaikwad should get a place in India’s squad as a backup opener with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul going strong. After having bagged the orange cap in IPL 2021, Gaikwad is currently the leading run-scorer in Vijay Hazare Trophy with 435 runs from four matches to his account.

Venkatesh Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad have almost entered the first-team squad: Saba Karim

“I believe that Venkatesh Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad have almost entered the first-team squad, and I’m talking about white-ball cricket. If we have to start the preparation for the 2023 World Cup, these two players should be part of the squad as soon as possible.

They should be given as much exposure as possible. Both these players provide a different spectrum for the team. Gaikwad can be the backup opener with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul going strong. On the other hand, Iyer has performed really well while batting at No. 5 or No. 6 in the Vijay Hazare trophy. If we are looking at the replacement for Hardik Pandya, we have already found the player,” Karim said on the Khelneeti podcast.

Karim further added that Dravid must be following the progress of these players and must have started the preparations for the 2023 World Cup. He said, “Rahul Dravid has seen these players for quite a while now. The way Dravid used to prepare as a player, he must be prepared in the same way as a coach. He must have thought about a core of 23-25 players in the white-ball cricket circuit. He must have started the preparation for the World Cups.”