South African cricket great AB de Villiers believes Hardik Pandya could be the key figure in India’s quest for T20 World Cup glory. Describing the all-rounder as a big pivotal player ahead of the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers shared his thoughts on India’s squad composition.
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Known for his sharp cricketing insight, de Villiers took a close look at the balance and flexibility of the Indian team. He pointed out that India now has several players who can contribute with both bat and ball. Which gives the team management plenty of tactical options?
According to him, this kind of depth allows captains and coaches to tweak their combinations depending on conditions, opposition, and match situations. A luxury that becomes invaluable in a high-pressure World Cup environment. While discussing the squad, de Villiers also highlighted some of the notable inclusions and omissions.
He mentioned Abhishek Sharma opening the batting and Sanju Samson handling wicketkeeping duties. Before drawing attention to a few big names who did not cut. Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jitesh Sharma were among those left out.
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T20 World Cup 2026: Hardik Pandya Stands Apart in a Crowded India Squad
A reminder of just how fierce the competition for places has become in Indian cricket. De Villiers acknowledged that these players were unlucky to miss out, but added that tough calls are inevitable when selectors are dealing with such a deep talent pool.
Despite the debate around those omissions, de Villiers was clear about one thing: Hardik Pandya’s importance to the side cannot be overstated. He described Pandya as a genuine match-winner, someone who can influence the game in more ways than one.
Whether it is batting at the top, in the middle, or finishing at the end, or bowling in the powerplay, middle overs, or at the death, Pandya offers unmatched versatility. For de Villiers, this ability to contribute in almost any situation makes Hardik the kind of player teams are built around.
He also spoke about the psychological impact Pandya has on opponents. When Hardik walks out to bat, de Villiers said, there is an immediate sense of danger in the fielding side. A few overs of clean hitting can completely turn a game.
And opposition teams know that if Pandya gets going, the match can slip away very quickly. The same applies when he has the ball in hand. De Villiers noted that Pandya often gives the impression of having a golden arm.
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T20 World Cup Final: Pandya’s Form Backs de Villiers’ Verdict
Someone who can break partnerships just when a batting side seems to be settling. That quality, he believes, makes Pandya a priceless weapon for India’s leadership group, including captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Recent performances back up de Villiers’ assessment. Pandya has been in impressive form in domestic and international cricket. During the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored his maiden List A century, blasting 133 off just 92 balls for Baroda against Vidarbha.
The innings was packed with power and confidence, featuring eight fours and 11 sixes, including one over that went for 34 runs. It was a reminder of how destructive Pandya can be when in full flow. He carried that momentum into the T20I series against South Africa, where he scored 142 runs across three innings.
Averaging 71.00 with a strike rate close to 187, Pandya notched up two half-centuries and looked every bit a player peaking at the right time. These performances have strengthened the belief that he will play a central role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, Jitesh Sharma, one of the players left out of the World Cup squad, responded in the best way possible with runs. After a string of low scores, the wicketkeeper-batter produced a stunning 75 in Baroda’s must-win Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Chandigarh on January 8.
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