India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who scored 90 off 76 balls in the first One-day International (ODI) against Australia, said he will bowl only when the time is right. Pandya, who is remodelling his action after a back surgery, is still not ready for the workload, captain Virat Kohli admitted. However, the all-rounder urged the team to groom other players with multiple skill-sets.

“I am working on my bowling, I am going to come at the right time when it is needed,” Pandya said during the post-match conference.

For Pandya, he wants to deliver high when he starts bowling and it is his long-term goal. “It’s a process, I am looking at a long-term goal where I want to be 100% of my bowling capacity for the most important games when the World Cups are coming or the most crucial series whenever it is required,” he said.

Pandya said that he can’t put a timeline on when he would bowl as he doesn’t want to rush things.

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“I am thinking as a long term plan not short term plan where I’ll try to exhaust myself and maybe have something else which is not there, so it’s a process, which I am following. I can’t tell you exactly when I am going to bowl,” he said, informing that he is bowling at the nets.

Pandya made no bones about the fact that India should also look at all-round options considering that a sixth bowling option is a must for balance of an ODI team.

“I think, maybe, we will have to find someone who has already played India and groom them and find a way to make them play,” he said.

“It is always going to be difficult when you go with five bowlers, because then if somebody is having an off day, you won’t have someone to fulfill (that role),” he said about a collective flop-show by the Indian bowling.

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“…..more than injury, it is about the sixth bowler’s role. If someone is having a bad day, so the other guys gets more cushion,” he said.

India, after a 66-run drubbing at the hands of Australia in the opening match of the three-match ODI series, will face the hosts on November 29 for the second match of the series.