With Hardik, however, India also get a specialist third seamer, who balances the team out in such a way that they can afford to choose the attacking option always by playing their wicket-taking left-arm wrist spinner. In 2023 alone, Hardik took 21 wickets at 24.85, often taking the new-ball, and often being an equally potent strike weapon alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. Like he did through the World Cup on home soil that year before going down with an injury post the win against Bangladesh. Back then, India were forced to make two changes to make up for Hardik. With Suryakumar Yadav coming in as a specialist bat and Mohammed Shami as the third seamer, leading to R Ashwin missing out for good. It eventually worked well for India as they still could afford to keep Kuldeep in the mix alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
