As India gear up for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan, set to be played on Saturday in Chennai, India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has praised the prominent emergence of all-rounders ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. In the series against Afghanistan, India have missed the services of Hardik Pandya, which has given them the opportunity to test their bench strength. Players like Harsh Dubey and Nitish Reddy have made greater impact.
"It's really good. I would still say the majority of those guys are bowling allrounders. When Hardik's fit, he obviously brings a different element because he's such a strong batter, such a strong finisher. That sort of role. It is difficult to find a finisher who can give you overs as well. So those guys are all tracking really nicely. Like I said with Nitish, for the last 18 months, he's shown glimpses of how important he can be to this team, particularly in this format. I feel his body's getting stronger and stronger, and I sort of feel he is the natural successor or back-up to Hardik," Ryan said at the press conference.
"But certainly to see these other guys chipping in and working on their games, even someone like Gurnoor and Harshit again, they're bowling all-rounders. But the fact that we feel we've got guys who can hold the bat at No. 9, and looking forward for the next 14-15 months, that is going to be very important, especially in South Africa when you want to play three proper out-and-out seamers. Those guys are going to need to bat. So yeah, a lot of good signs on the allrounder front and also on the fast bowler front. It's refreshing this week to see Prince, Gurnoor and Auqib Nabi."
Meanwhile, fast bowler Harshit Rana has been added to India's squad for the final ODI, returning to action for the first time since February earlier this year. He was on the sidelines due to a knee issue, missing major tournaments like the T20I World Cup 2026 and, subsequently, the IPL.
"I have seen him for five minutes on the bus, and I'm going to spin a story like I know exactly what is going on. But he has put a body of work in at NCA, he has got the clearance to NCA, he has obviously joined us here today. He seems fully fit, I'm sure he is going to have a run today. I cannot see any shape of him playing tomorrow, but obviously he comes to Ireland next week as well."
"So just to get him around the team again, he seemed very chirpy and happy. There were no signs of him carrying any baggage around that injury, which he did. To miss a World Cup, to miss a competition like that for a young guy is tough, but you suspect he's someone who will get at least a couple more chances to play in tournaments like that. So the staff's job now is just to build enough to make sure the confidence is up there, but most importantly to make sure that his body is ready for the T20 series in the next six weeks as well. So the priority is to make sure that he is absolutely ready," he said.