2 Players Who Could Have Been Better Replacements For Hardik Pandya 

#1 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya in action against England Lions for India A earlier this year

The elder Pandya, Krunal Pandya, could have been a perfect replacement for his injured brother Hardik Pandya in the playing XI. Krunal has been under the selector's radar for some time now but could not make it to the squad until now except on one occasion when he was selected as the replacement for injured Washington Sundar for the T20I series in England.

Krunal has been a consistent performer for his franchise Mumbai Indians in the IPL and plays the role of batting all-rounder to perfection. He has been providing finishing touches to their games while batting and bowling economical overs in the mid-phase of the innings.

He should have been tried at number 7 in the absence of Hardik as it could have created a potential replacement option (if Krunal was successful) for the finishers position in the team in case of any injuries during the World Cup next year. He has an astonishing career strike rate of 146.96 in T20 cricket and an economy of 6.7 while bowling, so the selectors should give him a chance sooner rather than later in the national team.