A major statement has emerged regarding India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Former South African captain AB de Villiers has called Hardik the most crucial player for India’s T20 World Cup defense.
De Villiers believes that Hardik’s role in this major tournament, being played on home soil, could be far more impactful than that of other players.
AB de Villiers made these remarks on his YouTube channel, where he openly discussed the balance of the Indian team and player selection.
Hardik Pandya Is the X-Factor: AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers clearly stated about Hardik Pandya:
“There are a lot of players offering skill with both bat and ball so you can really play around with the balance. I noted no Pant here, no Gill, no Jaiswal, no Jitesh, so those are the unlucky guys who missed out. Hardik will be the big pivotal player,”
He further emphasized Hardik’s match-winning ability, saying:
“He’s the guy who can win you games. When he walks out to bat, there’s a sense in the opposition like we need to get him out. Same with the ball in hand, the minute he comes on, you feel like he has a golden arm, so a great asset,”
De Villiers believes that Hardik’s presence creates a unique pressure on the opposing team, whether he’s batting or bowling.
Hardik Pandya has previously played crucial roles for India in big matches. Bowling the final over against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in the USA and the Caribbean is considered the biggest example of this.
Why Ishan Kishan Got the Nod Over Jaiswal
AB de Villiers also shared his opinion on Ishan Kishan’s selection. He explained that including Ishan as a wicketkeeper was a necessity for the team management. De Villiers said:
“Interesting that Ishan Kishan comes in as a wicketkeeping option. Will he play? Where will he bat? Looking at the top three, there’s a bit of a headache there for them.” He further added, “Ishan will be a backup wicketkeeper, and remember Jaiswal is not a wicketkeeper. I think it was a difficult decision and definitely not easy.”
According to de Villiers, having two wicketkeepers is essential in a major tournament like the World Cup, and that’s why the team had to make this decision.
