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It has been an eventful year for Hardik Pandya, who not only made a comeback from a series of debilitating injuries, but also reaffirmed his credentials as one of the most indispensable members of the squad.
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As Pandya celebrates his 29th birthday in Perth, we take a look at why he is the most vital cog for India in their quest to win T20I World Cup for the second time.
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Pandya's Much-Improved Bowling Pandya has been in scintillating form with the bat, winning quite a few matches on his own in the last few weeks. But it is his much-improved bowling that makes him so crucial for the Indian side. An economy rate of just over 8 is decent for the fourth pacer, as he can chip in when one of the main fast bowlers is having a rough day.
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Pandya's Game Against High Pace In the last four years, only Surykumar Yadav has averaged more than Pandya in this Indian team against balls above 140kph. Pandya's game against high pace bowling makes him a very threatening proposition for opponents on the fast-paced Australian pitches.
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No Alternatives For Pandya India don't have a single player who offers a skillset as diverse as Pandya. For the time he was away from the action, India tried out a few names, but none of them managed to replicate what Pandya could for the team.
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Crucial For Balanced Team Pandya's presence allows the Indian team to play with one extra batter or bowler depending on the situation. Against Australia in the first T20I, India played only two pacers, with Pandya bowling two crucial overs. In the last T20I, India played with only five specialist batters.