Former Australian wicket-keeper batter Adam Gilchrist has included Hardik Pandya among the top five T20I players in the world. Gilchrist heaped praise on the Indian player for his all-round abilities with both bat and ball.

Pandya has made a resounding comeback after returning from injury. The all-rounder led Gujarat Titans to glory in the IPL and since then he has been consistently performing for the team. Pandya is also consistently bowling around the 140 kmph mark and he is going to hold the key for the team in the T20 World Cup.

“Pandya is just an awesome cricketer straight across the board,” Gilchrist said in a video on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official website. “His ability to bat, bowl, field and entertain, he’s definitely in there. He’s at the top of the order.”

On the other hand, Gilchrist named David Warner, Babar Azam, Jos Buttler, and Rashid Khan as the other four players he is looking forward to seeing in action in the T20 World Cup.

All of these four players have been match winners for their respective teams and they have played at the top of the game.

Speaking about these players’ attributes, Gilchrist said about David Warner, “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.”

About Babar, Gilchrist 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 really well.”

“Cricketer of the year in this format across the world. Over the last decade, Rashid Khan is in there.”

“It’s a bit batting heavy I know, but Jos Buttler for me,” Gilchrist added. “He is just dynamic, his power and his courage to take it on. Simply a stroke of brilliance from him and its game over.”

All these five players have done a consistent job for the team and they will be looking to deliver the goods in the T20I showpiece in Australia.