Virat Kohli believes Hardik Pandya can become a “bankable middle-order player” for Team India

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has heaped praise on all-rounder Hardik Pandya and has earmarked him to be taking over the finisher’s role for the national team over the next five years. Hardik Pandya, who has been in scintillating form during the ongoing tour of Australia, has established himself as a valuable asset for the team playing purely as a batsman.

"He has natural raw talent, and now he's quite experienced having played quite a bit of T20 cricket in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and playing for India too,” said Virat Kohli, speaking after the 2nd T20I against Australia.

Hardik Pandya finished off the Indian run-chase with two towering sixers, which clinched the T20 series for the team. “Now he realizes that this is his time, the next four-five years, to become that bankable middle-order player that can win you games from anywhere. You need that finisher and he's becoming that for us. He's hungry, he's got to keep getting better,” added Virat Kohli.

Having won the T20I series already, India will be aiming for a clean sweep. Team India’s previous T20 engagement also ended in a clean sweep of New Zealand. Team India have also now won 9 T20 games in a row, the last defeat coming exactly a year ago, on the 8th of December 2019.

[Reuters inputs]