5 players who can win the Champions Trophy for India

Hardik Pandya has emerged as the newest solution to India’s new-ball woes

#3 Hardik Pandya

India’s all-rounder woes seem to have been neutralised to some extent with the inclusion of Hardik Pandya in the side. The fearless approach that he brings with his batting augurs well with the need of the era, wherein the batsmen have been becoming ball-smacking machines with no concern for the number of overs remaining in the game.

With the decline of Dhoni, the finisher, and the absence of a pinch hitter lower down the order, Pandya seems to be the perfect fit for the side in these circumstances, and if he manages to do what he has been doing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, he might prove out to be the difference maker.

Also, under the seamer-friendly conditions in England, Pandya could also fill in for the role of the third seamer, or the fifth bowler. He might bowl a few overs upfront in the innings in order to allow somebody like Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowl more at the death, while he can also bowl in the middle overs, in case the spinners are having a bad day.

His all-round efforts have not been witnessed at their greatest magnitude yet, but given the kind of touch he is, it would only be a matter of executing his plans under the pressure of playing an ICC tournament. If he manages to do that, he could very well be a match winner.