Hardik Pandya, Not Rohit or Kohli, Is India's World Cup Key
Since the 2019 World Cup, India's win-loss ratio with Hardik Pandya is 3.8 compared to 1.48 without him.
Hardik Pandya's importance to India's white-ball setup was glaringly evident during the recent UK tour. His absence disrupted the team's balance, forcing them into suboptimal combinations. No other all-round option bridges the gap, leaving India's lineup compromised without him.
Since the 2019 World Cup, only seven players from top ODI nations have scored over 1000 runs and taken 40 wickets. Pandya is one of two pace-bowling all-rounders in that elite group, alongside Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai. His stats — 1173 runs at 35.54 and 47 wickets at 31.55 — underline his value, especially as a floater who bowls tough overs.
India's win-loss record tells the story: with Pandya, they have won 38 of 49 matches (ratio 3.8); without him, just 37 of 66 (ratio 1.48). He allows India to field an extra batter or bowler as needed. Moreover, 61.7% of his wickets have been top-order batters, proving his knack for breaking partnerships. For India to triumph in 2027, a fit Hardik Pandya is non-negotiable.