Former Indian wicket-keeper and now commentator Deep Dasgupta believes the return of Hardik Pandya and in-form Rishabh Pant will add value to the team’s lower middle-order and it will make a huge difference.

Both Pandya and Pant are known to hit the ground running and they can get quick runs while batting down the order.

Since MS Dhoni’s retirement, India hasn’t found an ideal finisher and Pandya and Pant will need to take the onus. Pandya will return to action after taking part in the limited-overs series against Australia. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant was able to get back into the white-ball team after consistent performances in the Test format.

Both Pandya and Pant are yet to deliver in the shortest format of the game for the national team but they have done justice to their roles while playing for their respective franchises in the Indian Premier League.

Pant has a strike rate of 122.02 in the T20I format but there is no doubt that this will improve as he has impressed with his pyrotechnics. On the other hand, Pandya has a strike rate of 149.23 and thus both he and Pant can deliver the goods at the fag end of the innings and provide the finishing touches.

I think that Hardik coming back is huge. And Rishabh, the kind of form he’s in. Because what India really lacked in T20 were power hitters in the lower middle order, to finish off the game,” Deep Dasgupta said while talking to Sports Today. “With Hardik Pandya back and also Rishabh, with the kind of form he is in, I think that would make a huge difference.”

On the other hand, batsmen like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli will hold the key for the team in the top-order. Players like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have also come up in the ranks and the Indian team has a potent bench strength.

Thus, the Indian team has a formidable batting unit and they will look to be at their best in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The first T20I will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 12th March.