"He knows this ground" - Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya's importance in IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 clash

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Former India participant Aakash Chopra has highlighted Hardik Pandya's significance for the Males in Blue heading into their T20 World Cup 2026 conflict towards South Africa. He identified that the previous Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper may be very conversant in the Ahmedabad floor.

India will lock horns with South Africa of their first Tremendous Eight stage Group 1 sport on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22. Hardik had taken the Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title and a runners-up end in 2023 in his two-year captaincy stint with the franchise.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the previous India opener reckoned that Hardik would have an important position in Sunday's sport.

"We should not go removed from Hardik Pandya. He has a powerful position to play on this specific sport, and why am I saying that? One, he is aware of this floor. He gained the Gujarat Titans the trophy whereas captaining them and took them to the ultimate as effectively. He has been a stellar performer," he mentioned.

Chopra highlighted that the big-hitting all-rounder raises his sport in stress conditions.

"He does each jobs, bats and bowls, and let's be very trustworthy, beneath stress, there isn't a higher clutch participant than him. He got here and hit sixes within the final match as effectively. He scored 52 runs within the Delhi sport as effectively. He's good, and when he comes, the get together routinely begins," he noticed.

Hardik Pandya has amassed 2,158 runs at a strike fee of 144.92 in 104 T20I innings. He has scored 87 runs at a strike fee of 155.35 in 4 innings within the T20 World Cup 2026.

"I'm saying make him bowl with the brand new ball" - Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya's utilization as a bowler in IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 conflict <img class="lazy-img" width="1920" height="1279" data-img="https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg" srcset="https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg 1920w" alt="Hardik Pandya dismissed Sahibzada Farhan with the new ball in India's T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan. [P/C: Getty]" data-img-low="https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/02/94175-17717327225747-1920.jpg?w=640" bad-src="data:image/svg+xml, "/> Hardik Pandya dismissed Sahibzada Farhan with the brand new ball in India's T20 World Cup 2026 conflict towards Pakistan. [P/C: Getty] In the identical video, Aakash Chopra opined that Hardik Pandya ought to accomplice Arshdeep Singh with the brand new ball in India's T20 World Cup 2026 conflict towards South Africa.

"I'm saying make him bowl with the brand new ball as effectively. Do not give the brand new ball to Jasprit Bumrah. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, as a result of Bumrah can bowl later as effectively. Do not take rigidity. You can also make him bowl in three spells," he mentioned. The cricketer-turned-commentator identified that India have solely frontline bowlers, other than Hardik, and might need difficulties bowling Axar Patel towards the left-handed batters within the South African lineup.

"Nevertheless, Hardik's overs with the brand new ball are extraordinarily vital as a result of you've 4 correct frontline bowlers, which incorporates Axar Patel, and the left-handers will are available entrance, plus Hardik's 4 overs, and possibly you'll attempt to get one or two overs out of Shivam Dube," he noticed. Hardik Pandya has picked up 110 wickets at an financial system fee of 8.27 in 120 T20I innings. He has accounted for 5 dismissals, whereas conceding a mean of seven.92 runs per over, in 4 innings within the T20 World Cup 2026.