Bangar says Pandya’s unmatched all-round value makes him irreplaceable
NEW DELHI
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has lauded Hardik Pandya as a once-in-a-generation all-rounder, insisting that no player in India’s current T20 setup matches his dual-impact presence. Pandya, recovering from a quadricep injury suffered during the Asia Cup, is set to return for the five-match ODI series against South Africa beginning Tuesday in Cuttack.
Bangar stressed that Pandya’s skill set places him in a category of his own. Comparing him with global all-rounders like Ben Stokes and drawing parallels with Ravindra Jadeja’s irreplaceability in longer formats, Bangar said Pandya could command a place either as a pure batter or a frontline seamer. “To be that kind of all-rounder, you must earn your place with both bat and ball. There is no other player like Hardik Pandya in the Indian team,” he said.
On workload management, Bangar suggested Pandya should feature in at least the first three matches against South Africa to assess his physical readiness. He cautioned against drawing conclusions about playing six or seven T20Is before the World Cup, noting the gap in intensity between domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and international cricket. A fully fit Pandya, he added, provides India with their ideal team balance, particularly with the available spin options.
Before his India return, Pandya struck an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls for Baroda in SMAT and bowled four overs at full throttle.
India skipper Shubman Gill also returns after a neck spasm. Bangar believes Gill’s growth as Test captain has strengthened his mindset across formats, making him a solid T20I top-order option.
On selection debates, Bangar felt Sanju Samson may struggle for a T20I berth, with Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Pandya preferred in the middle order. He backed Jitesh Sharma to claim the No. 7 spot given his proven lower-order hitting ability.