Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg feels Hardik Pandya has gleefully accepted the selectors’ decision to back Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain ahead of him. Pandya was the favorite to take over as T20I captain after Rohit Sharma’s T20I retirement but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel ignored the all-rounder for the leadership role because of his fitness issues.

Pandya has proved his leadership qualities in the IPL, taking Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022 and runners-up position in the subsequent season. However, Pandya could not lead Mumbai Indians from the front in IPL 2024 after making a comeback to his former team.

Meanwhile, Pandya scored 118 runs (second-most) in three matches of the Bangladesh series at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 222.64. Furthermore, Pandya picked up one wicket in two innings.

Brad Hogg said on his YouTube Channel, “I love the way he’s (Hardik) accepted Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of this Indian team, but it’s also helped his game as well. He’s really starting to expand with the bat as well, showed his true form. He struggled a little bit through the last IPL, and we all know why, because there was a lot of pressure on him moving from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, but he’s just shown his true class here.” 

Hogg added that Pandya adds depth to the team’s batting as an all-rounder, even though he could be a bit expensive with the ball.

“If you’re going to be a dominant team in T20Is, you got to have your medium-pace all-rounders, and that’s what Hardik brings. Even though he is a little bit more expensive than your conventional bowler, he still adds depth to your batting.” 

A fit Hardik Pandya is the key for India in the white-ball formats and the all-rounder will look to keep up the good show in upcoming assignments.