South Africa vs India 2018: 5 takeaways from the first ODI

#4 Hardik Pandya is still not the all-rounder India needs

India needs him to bowl those 10 overs of the fifth bowler

This was India's primary issue even in the Test series. Hardik Pandya is the perfect batsman at number 7 for India, someone who can come and smash the ball out of the ground. However, he is not doing justice to his all-rounder tag. Being India's fifth bowler, Hardik has the responsibility of bowling those vital 10 overs in the second powerplay and give India breakthrough at regular intervals.

However, he has underperformed with the ball in the last 6 months which forced captain Kohli to play another allrounder in Kedar Jadhav. Pandya bowled only 7 overs, went for almost 6 an over and, most importantly, was wicketless. Playing two allrounders also hampers the depth of Indian batting line up as both Jadhav and Pandya are pinch hitters and not someone who can steady the innings in case of an early collapse.