India veteran speedster Umesh Yadav believes Hardik Pandya is a key player for Team India because of the balance he brings with both bat and ball. Speaking on Salaam Cricket, a special show on Sports Tak, Umesh said there is always a small concern when it comes to Hardik’s fitness, but at the moment, he looks fit enough to play the entire tournament and hopefully, nothing goes wrong.
Umesh on fast bowling all-rounders
Umesh stressed the importance of having a fast-bowling all-rounder in the T20 format. He said Hardik’s ability to bowl with the new ball gives the team more options and flexibility. If a particular bowling plan does not work, the team can then use Jasprit Bumrah in tough situations.
Umesh Yadav on Hardik Pandya
“Bumrah is our main bowler,” Umesh said. “He can bowl in the powerplay, the middle overs, and at the death.” However, Umesh added that this balance depends a lot on Hardik’s fitness. He also joked that people in North India always say “touchwood,” meaning they pray nothing bad happens.
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Umesh on Hardik Pandya fitness
Umesh went on to say that if Hardik stays fit throughout the tournament, it will be a big boost for India. His presence allows the team to play six bowlers while still keeping strong batting depth. Hardik can score important runs and also take wickets when needed.
Umesh's predictions for T20 World Cup 2026 semifinalists
Sharing his prediction for the semifinalists, Umesh named India, Australia, South Africa, and England as the strongest teams. He also mentioned New Zealand, saying that while their recent T20 form hasn’t been very impressive, they often turn into a different and much stronger side during ICC tournaments.