Former South African captain and cricket legend AB de Villiers has singled out star all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the crucial figure for India's campaign to defend their T20 World Cup title. The upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted on Indian soil.
De Villiers' High Praise for Pandya
In a recent analysis on his YouTube channel, de Villiers emphasized Pandya's unique value to the Indian team. "Hardik will be the big pivotal player," de Villiers stated. He elaborated that Pandya's dual skills create a significant advantage, allowing the team management great flexibility in balancing the side.
De Villiers highlighted the intimidation factor Pandya brings. "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," the former Proteas skipper added.
Pandya's Proven Track Record
This endorsement is backed by Pandya's recent heroics. He played an instrumental role in India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup victory in the USA and the Caribbean Islands. His most memorable contribution was bowling the tense, match-winning final over against South Africa in the championship decider, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer.
De Villiers also touched upon the notable omissions from the squad, mentioning that players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jitesh Sharma were the "unlucky guys who missed out."
The Ishan Kishan Selection Puzzle
Another point of discussion was the selection of Ishan Kishan as the backup wicketkeeper. Kishan earned his spot after a blistering domestic season where he led Jharkhand to their historic first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title.
De Villiers acknowledged the selection headache this creates for the Indian think-tank. "Interesting that Ishan Kishan comes in as a wicketkeeping option. Will he play? Where will he bat?" he questioned, pointing to the competition at the top of the order among players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
He reasoned that the need for a second wicketkeeper in a World Cup squad ultimately cost Yashasvi Jaiswal his place. "It was probably between Jaiswal and Abhishek and Abhishek's stats speak for themselves. They felt they had to make space for a wicketkeeper batter," de Villiers explained, calling the squad a "mouthful" of incredible talent.
The insights from a global superstar like AB de Villiers underscore the high stakes and difficult choices involved as India prepares to defend their world championship title at home, with Hardik Pandya expected to be at the heart of their strategy.
