- By Gurmeet Batra
- Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs South Africa T20I: Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar lauded star all-rounder Hardik Pandya as an 'irreplaceable' asset in India's T20I squad, citing the exceptional all-round abilities that make him an essential part of the team.
All-rounder Pandya is set to make a much-anticipated comeback to the Indian squad, having overcome a quadriceps injury that sidelined him for over two months since the Asia Cup.
He will make his return in India's five-match T20I series against South Africa, beginning on Tuesday in Cuttack.
"Look at all the all-rounders in world cricket now. Does England have a backup for Ben Stokes? No. In one-day or even Test cricket, there is no backup for Ravindra Jadeja. It is the same with Hardik Pandya," JioStar expert Bangar said.
"He (Pandya) can command a spot in the top five on his batting alone. He could also be one of the top three seamers in any team if he were just a bowler. The point is, to be that kind of all-rounder, you must earn your place with your batting and also with your bowling. There is no other player like Hardik Pandya in the Indian team," he added.
On Pandya's workload control, Bangar said he should at least play the first three games against South Africa.
"We need to see how he copes. Playing in the SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) is different from the intensity of an international game. The team management must manage the workload of important players like him," he said, insisting that it is too early to say if he should play six or seven T20Is before the World Cup.
"So, if needed, we must do that for Hardik too. A fit Hardik Pandya allows the team to play its desired combination, especially with the spin options we have. That's why his presence is critically vital," he added.