T20 World Cup 2022: Is the Indian team too reliant on Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder?

Of this transformation, the player who has won the hearts of many with his terrific performance after making a comeback in international cricket is Hardik Pandya. 

Hardik Pandya is a mercurial athlete capable of turning games around single-handedly. While his all-rounding skills reminded people of legendary Kapil Dev on the field, his calm and confident composure bagged him comparison with MS Dhoni.  

India had another match-winning all-rounder in the form of Ravindra Jadeja in their squad. But he got ruled out of the upcoming tournament owing to an unfortunate injury off-field. 

Had he been part of the squad, India's middle-order would have been stronger, consisting of power-hitters and wicket-taking bowlers. Their presence would have eased the day for bowlers in case they had a bad day. 

But since he is out of the tournament, India relies heavily on Hardik Pandya to fulfill the role of an all-rounder. 

Men in Blue had two other options in the form of Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur as all-rounders. But a series of lack-lustred performances from Shardul Thakur has made him be overlooked in the T20 format as an all-rounder. 

On the other hand, Deepak Chahar still seems to be in the picture, as he has been included in the reserves for the World Cup. His injury just before IPL affected his inclusion capacity; he would have been the preferred choice over some other player down the order. 

Hardik Pandya has been in his monstrous form since IPL 2022 and has given stunning performances in bilateral series and Asia Cup. His evolution in terms of approach to the game as a player has improved tremendously. 

"He has got such great belief, talent is one thing, but trusting the fact you can be a match-winner and deliver on the day. He is such an adaptable cricketer. He has grown a lot as a cricketer. The biggest thing is the belief in himself. His ability to be able to read the situation, know the pressure is there and then handle it and deliver, it's taking him to new levels," said former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden.

The Kung-fu Pandya has gained undeniable maturity in the game and thus has become the team's Mr. Dependable in difficult match situations.