· Hardik Pandya, India’s ace all-rounder, once again showcased his all-round skills in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday. Making a comeback from injury, Hardik produced a blistering 59 not out off 28 balls and took the crucial wicket of David Miller, paving the way for a 101-run victory for the home side. With the T20 World Cup to be played in February-March 2026, Hardik’s role in the team is vitally important if India are to defend their title.
A fully fit Pandya gives the Indian team management much-needed flexibility. The presence of the Baroda all-rounder undoubtedly adds firepower to the middle order. He can also deliver four overs and be used both in the powerplay and at the death.
Now, the pertinent question is whether Pandya should be used in all nine remaining T20Is leading up to the World Cup. Remember, he is returning from an injury that saw him miss the Asia Cup final, the white-ball series against Australia Down Under, and the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the Proteas. So the team management will need to use him wisely before the marquee event.
Before returning to the T20I side, Hardik did play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab, where he scored a match-winning 77. The 32-year-old all-rounder arrived in Cuttack a day ahead of his teammates. He completed a solo training session on Sunday, bowling for nearly 20 minutes before heading to the nets to work on hitting sixes. It is essential that the team management carefully manages the workload of match-winners like Pandya.
Reflecting on his knock during the post-match ceremony, he said, “I had to back my shots. At the same time, I realised that the wicket had a bit of spice. You had to be a little gutsy, and it was more about timing the ball, not trying to break it. I was very satisfied with the way I was batting.”
Pandya has a history of breaking down, as was the case in the 2023 ODI World Cup when he suffered an ankle injury that disrupted the team’s combination. Tuesday’s game in Cuttack once again highlighted the importance of having a gun player like him in the side.
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