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India won the Asia Cup 2025 by beating Pakistan in a thrilling final. But the big worry is the injury to Hardik Pandya. He missed the final due to a quadriceps problem and doctors have told him to rest for at least four weeks. This means he is likely to miss the India vs Australia ODI series, starting on October 19, 2025.
Hardik is very important to India because he can both bat in the middle order and bowl medium pace. If he is not fit, India will need another all-rounder. Here are three players who can replace him in the upcoming series.
1. Shivam Dube
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Shivam Dube showed his skills in the Asia Cup 2025 final. He bowled three overs in the powerplay and gave away only 23 runs. With the bat, he scored a quick 33 runs from 22 balls and helped India win the match in the last over.
Throughout the tournament, he took five wickets and scored important runs. Even though his past ODI record is not great, his recent form makes him the best option to replace Hardik.
2. Nitish Kumar Reddy
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The 22-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy is seen as a future star all-rounder for India. He already made his Test and T20I debut and played an amazing century in Australia during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In List-A cricket, his batting average is over 36 with a strong strike rate of 95. He has also taken 14 wickets in 22 matches. He knows Australian conditions well, which makes him a very good choice if Hardik is unavailable.
3. Suryansh Shedge
Suryansh Shedge, another 22-year-old, is a young pace-bowling all-rounder from Mumbai. He is currently playing for India A against Australia A.
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, he took nine wickets with a brilliant average of 16.22 and also scored quick runs with the bat. He even played in the IPL for Punjab Kings, where he gained useful experience. Giving him a chance against Australia can help India prepare new options for the future.
Conclusion
Hardik Pandya’s absence will be tough for India, but it also gives a chance to test new all-rounders. Shivam Dube’s good form, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s talent, and Suryansh Shedge’s potential make them the best three choices to replace Hardik in the India vs Australia ODI series.
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