The bilateral T20I series has dominated the months running up to the T20 World Cup as sides try to be ready and find their best lineups for the important competition. As a result, several top players have emerged and come back to prominence. These players will all be among the biggest draws during the tournament in Australia this month.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya is the player from India to appear on the list of five players put up by former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
In a video posted to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) website, Gilchrist made the statement, “Pandya is just an awesome cricketer straight across the board. His ability to bat, bowl, field, and entertain, he’s definitely in there. He’s at the top of the order.”
Since the start of the 2022 Indian Premier League, when Pandya led the Gujarat Titans to the championship in their inaugural season of the competition, he has staged an incredible recovery. He has now developed into an essential component of India’s batting and bowling combinations.
His current batting statistics for the year—436 runs scored at an average of 36.33 and a strike rate of 151.38—is by far the greatest for a year in his career. In addition, he has bowled in 17 innings and claimed 12 wickets, including a four-wicket haul.
David Warner of Australia, Babar Azam of Pakistan, Jos Buttler of England, and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan were the other players Gilchrist mentioned.
About David Warner, Gilchrist said, “I think just his attacking attitude, the way he kick-starts innings at the top, and the confidence he’ll have from the previous T20 World Cup.”
While on Babar, he said, “His versatility across all formats, but also when it’s getting down to T20 cricket, just across all conditions, I think he can play all conditions well.”
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The legendary Australian wicketkeeper asserted that Rashid Khan must be a part of every T20 side. “Cricketer of the year in this format across the world. Over the last decade, Rashid Khan is in there.”
In the end, he further told the reason to add Jos Butler to the list. He said, “It’s a bit batting heavy I know, but Jos Buttler for me. He is just dynamic, with his power and his courage to take it on. Simply a stroke of brilliance from him and it’s game over.”
