21 January,2026 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hardik Pandya (Pic: File Pic)
Former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra said that the team is incomplete without Hardik Pandya, highlighting the all-rounder's value.
The "Men in Blue" will clash against New Zealand for the five-match T20I series on Wednesday. The contest will also serve as a preparatory series for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan', the former cricketer heaped praise on Pandya by saying he can make those contributions with the bat and ball, which no one else in India could.
"Team India is incomplete without Hardik Pandya. There is only one Hardik in the entire world. What he provides with bat and ball, no one else in India can do," he said.
Further speaking, Chopra said that only Pandya can bowl with the new ball and can also be handy in the death overs.
"You might want a spinner like Varun Chakaravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav in the eleven, but then you also need a batter at number eight. You can't have everything, you can't field twelve players. Only Hardik can do this for you. He can bowl with the new ball and make an impact, and he bowls at the death too. He even bowled the final over of the 2024 T20 World Cup which India won. Only Hardik can do such things. You won't find anyone else like him," he added.
As the "Men in Blue" will enter the series with their main squad for the global showpiece, the former cricketer sees it as an important series for the hosts.
"This five-match T20I series versus New Zealand is very important for Suryakumar Yadav and his team. New Zealand have also come fully prepared. In the ODI series they rested some players, but here their main T20 World Cup squad is playing," said the 48-year-old cricketer.
"Will they play two pacers and three spinners? Which batters do they need? If Tilak Varma is fit, will they give Rinku Singh a chance or keep playing Shreyas Iyer? There are many questions to answer before this series," explained Chopra.
The first T20I match between Team India and New Zealand is scheduled to be played on Wednesday at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
(With PTI Inputs)
