India, June 12 -- When India begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup with a three-match home series against Afghanistan on Saturday, much of the spotlight will naturally fall on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and the team's long-term plans under captain Shubman Gill. But former India batter Suresh Raina believes the series also presents the perfect opportunity to address one of India's biggest concerns heading into next year's tournament: finding a reliable backup for Hardik Pandya.

Speaking on JioStar's 'Follow the Blues', Raina urged the team management to prioritise developing an alternative to the injury-prone all-rounder, who has been ruled out of the Afghanistan series after reportedly suffering a leg strain during training ...