India’s veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya is going to hold the key for the team in the upcoming Asia Cup. Rahane said Pandya can deliver while playing the finisher role as he can hit the ground running and play according to the match situation.

Pandya last played professional cricket in IPL 2025, scoring 224 runs in 12 innings at an average of 24.89 and a strike rate of 163.50 while leading the Mumbai Indians.

Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube Channel, “Hardik’s role in this Asia Cup will be really important. As an all-rounder, he has done really well for the team in the past. Coming at No. 5 and 6 as a batter, creating that impact, playing with a high strike rate, reading the situation, and playing according to it, he has done it all. I’m sure he can do it again.”

Rahane said it would be important for India that Pandya bowls his complete quota of four overs and if he can do that, it will provide great balance to the team.

Rahane added, “What I would like to see from Hardik is bowling his four overs for the team. If he can do that, bowl those four overs, the team can actually have a very good balance.”

Pandya has scored 1812 runs in 90 T20I innings at an average of 27.88 and a strike rate of 141.68. Furthermore, he has picked 94 wickets in 114 T20I matches.

India Squad for Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

India, eight-time Asia Cup champions, open their campaign against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium on September 10.