The Afghanistan ODI series may have been framed as another step in India’s march towards the 2027 World Cup, but beneath the victories lay a more specific objective: expanding the country’s all-rounder resources beyond the security blanket of Hardik Pandya.

India has spent much of the last decade orbiting around Hardik Pandya. He is not merely an all-rounder. He is a solution to several problems at once: a middle-order hitter, a finisher, a seam-bowling option, and a balance-restorer.

His absence due to a quadriceps strain handed the team management an opportunity to assess a range of candidates. Nitish Kumar, along with spin-bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey, featured during the series, while Harshit Rana returned to the squad after a lengthy injury layoff.

Gurnoor Brar, meanwhile, showcased the pace, aggression and lower-order batting potential that have increasingly attracted the selectors’ attention.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate suggested that India’s planning extends well beyond identifying immediate replacements.

“It (the all-rounder pool) is really good. I would still say the majority of those guys are bowling all-rounders. And when Hardik’s fit, he obviously brings a different element because he’s such a strong batter and such a strong finisher. Sort of role scarcity... it is difficult to find a finisher who gives you overs as well.

“Those guys are all tracking really nicely. 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 backup to Hardik,” he said.

Ten Doeschate’s comments revealed a broader emphasis on lower-order batting depth, particularly with South African conditions in mind.

“Certainly, (it’s good) to see these other guys chipping in and working on their games — even someone like Gurnoor and Harshit. They’re bowling all-rounders, but the fact that we feel we’ve got guys who can hold the bat at No. 9... Obviously, looking forward to the next 14-15 months, that is going to be very important, especially in South Africa when you want to play three seamers, three proper out-and-out seamers,” he said.

The series highlighted the variety within India’s all-rounder pool. Add Harshit’s return, and the options suddenly appear plentiful. As ten Doeschate put it: “All of a sudden the cupboard seems very full.”

With 2027 on the horizon, that depth may prove as valuable as any individual star. India is no longer searching for one all-rounder. It is building a pool.