IND vs ENG: Test player Hardik Pandya's replacement found? Mumbai all-rounder shines in Ranji Trophy 2024

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IND vs ENG: Hardik Pandya last played a Test match for India more than five years ago in Southampton in September 2018. The former India greats of the game including Sourav Ganguly have time and again wished to see the seam-bowling all-rounder back in the Indian Test squad.

However, Hardik Pandya has not reciprocated on the sentiments and continued to focus on two white-ball formats of the game. India have felt the absence of an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya on their tours in SENA nations.

Shardul Thakur has given it his all in the role, but the management continues to look out for a more like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya who has the ability to change the complexion of the game in the red-ball format with his quick-fire batting, and bowl some quality overs of seam bowling.

The resurgence of Shivam Dube might just solve the problems of the selectors. In the absence of injured Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai all-rounder has also been included in the Indian T20I side which will face Afghanistan from January 11 in a three-match series.

Shivam Dube paved his way for India comeback with his performance for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. The 30-year-old sharpened his batting prowess and ended up scoring 418 runs at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 158.33.

He made his India comeback by finding a place in the Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian side which travelled for T20I series in Ireland ahead of the Asia Cup 2023. The right-hand batter was then named in the Indian cricket team squad for the Asian Games 2023. Shivam Dube was also part of the team which took on Australia in a 5-T20I series after the World Cup 2023, but his name was missing from the contingent which travelled to South Africa.

However, the CSK star has once again been named in the squad for Afghanistan T20Is. With the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to be held in June 2024, Shivam Dube took a step forward to grab the attention of the selectors.

In Mumbai's first match of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season, Dube scored 41 runs in the only innings he bowled and also picked six wickets across two innings including a four-wicket haul.

The timely reminder has been sent to the selectors just ahead of India's five-match Test series against England starting January 25. India also travel for a five-Test series in Australia at the end of the year. In case, the selectors and management want to invest on a proper seam-bowling all-rounder for the tour, now could be the time to include Shivam Dube in the mix of things, and prepare him for the big mission.