NEW DELHI: With the ICC T20 World Cup just weeks away, discussions around team combinations and match winners are gathering pace. Former cricketers are weighing in with their views, and among them is South African legend AB de Villiers.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers first spoke about the composition of India’s squad and pointed out a few notable omissions.

“Abhishek Sharma upfront, Sanju Samson wicketkeeper. I noted no Rishabh Pant here, no Shubman Gill, no Yashasvi Jaiswal, no Jitesh Sharma, so those are the unlucky guys who missed out.”

De Villiers, however, made it clear that one player stands out above the rest when it comes to India’s balance and match winning potential. He stressed that Hardik Pandya’s all round abilities make him central to India’s plans for the tournament.

“Hardik will be the big pivotal player. He’s the guy who can win you games with bat and bowl. He can bowl in any situation, he can bat anywhere in the line up.”

The former Proteas captain then explained the kind of impact Hardik has on opposition teams, especially in pressure situations during T20 cricket. According to de Villiers, Hardik’s presence alone can shift momentum.

“When he walks out to bat, there’s a sense in the opposition like we need to get him out, we’re gonna lose the game if he bats for three or four overs.”