Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has identified Hardik Pandya as the most impactful all-rounder in world T20 cricket as India gear up for the 2026 T20 World Cup. With the expanded 20-team tournament set to begin shortly, Clarke believes India’s title defence will heavily depend on the influence of their senior all-rounder.

Hardik’s importance to the Indian setup was underlined by his standout performances during India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. The all-rounder enjoyed a prolific tournament with the bat, scoring consistently at a brisk strike rate, while also delivering crucial breakthroughs with the ball.

Clarke heaped praise on Hardik Pandya, saying:

"This is a big call. I was watching India play the other night, and I think Hardik is the most important player in the world in T20 cricket currently. He’s my number one buy in T20 cricket. If I had to buy one player, I think it’d be Hardik Pandya, especially if you’re playing in Indian conditions.

He is important with bat, ball, and in the field." Clarke said in an interview with RevSportz.

Clarke further highlighted Hardik’s leadership value and tactical awareness, even without the captain’s armband. He stressed that Pandya’s reading of the game and experience could play a defining role in India’s campaign.

"He’s an amazing tactician too. So I think, captaincy-wise, as a senior player, in spite of not being the captain, he can help because he reads the game well. I think he’s massive for India’s success in this campaign.

Don’t be surprised if Hardik gets Player of the Series," he added.

The Indian all-rounder’s overall T20I numbers further reinforce Clarke’s assessment, with Hardik boasting over 2,000 runs and more than 100 wickets in the format across 129 matches.

Clarke also turned his attention to India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, stating that a fully fit Bumrah could give India a significant edge over their rivals, particularly Australia, who are battling fitness concerns among their leading fast bowlers.

"That could be significant and the main difference.

Look, Bumrah is the best. There’s no doubt about it. And he’s fit. If you look at the Australian team, we haven’t got Pat Cummins due to injury, Mitchell Starc has retired, and Josh Hazlewood I don’t think will start the tournament. So versus someone like Bumrah, fully fit and ready to rock, that could be significant and the main difference," said Clarke.

Bumrah was India’s standout performer during their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, finishing as the Player of the Tournament after picking up 15 wickets at a remarkable economy rate of under 4.20.

In addition to Pandya and Bumrah, Clarke also singled out Kuldeep Yadav as a key weapon for India in the upcoming World Cup. The former Australian skipper praised the left-arm spinner’s wicket-taking ability and backed him to play a decisive role. Kuldeep played a vital role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup title run, claiming 10 wickets in five matches

"I’ve supported him for a long time because I think he’s a superstar who hasn’t had enough opportunity in all three formats is Kuldeep Yadav. I think he’s ready to go. He’s a wicket-taker. That’s the key for me. I think for someone like Kuldeep Yadav, that’s his greatest strength, as there’s no better way to stop scoring than to get them out," the former Australia captain mentioned.