5 problems India must address before the 2019 World Cup

#4 Who is the backup bowler?

Hardik Pandya has improved as a bowler but has the tendency of leaking a lot of runs

India have finally found a pace-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya who lends balance to the team. He can bat anywhere in the order and has often been used as a floater. He can also contribute with the ball.

But he tends to have bad days. He can be erratic and wayward at times and that could hurt India. This is where India need a sixth bowling option. Kedar Jadhav was that option as he could chip in with a few overs when required. But in his absence, India went in with only 5 bowling options in the last three ODIs in South Africa.

When the squad was picked for the England ODIs, none of the batsmen could bowl before Suresh Raina was added as a replacement. So, what if Pandya or one of the main bowlers has a bad day? Whom do India fall back on? That’s where Virat Kohli and the team management need to decide and see who the best option is. India might not need that sixth bowler every game and the five bowlers might get the job done, but someone needs to be that bank who can provide at least 2-3 overs if not more.