New Delhi: If fit, Hardik Pandya should be the first name on the sheet for India, for he is irreplaceable in the current set-up owing to his uniqueness. With incredible depth, India, for once, can afford to be without proven matchwinners like Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, but no one can replace the quality, skills and game-changing ability that Hardik possesses. Such is Hardik’s impact that India would even be tempted to wrap him in cotton wool to ensure he enters the T20 World Cup 2026 in optimum fitness.

Returning from a nearly two-month layoff due left quadriceps injury, Hardik delivered a match-winning performance to help India take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series against South Africa. Despite being away from top-level cricket for such a long time, Hardik played as if he had never been away. He began the innings with two nonchalant sixes and never looked back.

The 32-year-old all-rounder scored an unbeaten 28-ball 59 on a pitch where all the others struggled for timing and pace. He took the pitch out of the equation with his aggressive and positive approach. At times, it almost felt like he was batting on a........

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