India’s big seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Raipur showed off a batting order that is moving at a scary pace. The Men in Blue chased down a tough 209 and made the target look like a joke. They crossed the finish line with almost five overs left. Ishan Kishan tore into the bowling. At the same time, Suryakumar Yadav did his usual thing, hitting shots that shouldn't be possible to wrap up the win.
But even with the runs piling up so fast, people watching closely noticed something strange. Hardik Pandya, the team’s main finisher and probably the most dangerous hitter for the final overs, stayed in the dugout. He kept his gear on and watched the show from the bench. He never actually made it out to the pitch.
A Strategic Gamble Over a Medical Concern for Hardik Pandya
This choice quickly set off a lot of talk on social media. Was the team hiding an injury? Was the star all-rounder not fit to bat, even though he bowled four overs earlier that night? The answer isn't in any medical report; it’s about a gutsy move by the team leaders. Leaving Hardik out wasn't about playing it safe. It was a way for India to show just how deep their talent goes.
By keeping Hardik back, the captain and the coach put their full trust in Shivam Dube to get the job done under pressure. The team mostly look at Dube as a backup for the 32-year-old, but he went out there and hammered 36 runs off just 18 balls.
He proved the management was right to trust him. This move worked in two ways. It gave Dube a huge boost in confidence, making him feel like a match-winner rather than just a fill-in. It also warned other teams around the world: India can hunt down 200-plus scores without even calling on their best finisher.
Most teams would get nervous about keeping their best player on the bench during a big chase. India did the opposite. They saw a record run-chase as the perfect time to test their bench strength. This wasn't about pushing Hardik down the order; it was about the team's bigger goal.
The management knew Hardik could finish games in his sleep, so they wanted to see if the team could win big without him. The Raipur result provided a clear answer. India has so many good players that they can treat their vice-captain as a luxury they simply do not always need.
