Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has picked Hardik Pandya as India’s X-factor for the T20 World Cup 2026. Doull said Pandya will be crucial in the death overs as he has perfected the art of bowling slower balls into the surface.

Pandya had opened the bowling innings with Arshdeep Singh in the opening T20I against New Zealand at Nagpur on Wednesday. The all-rounder accounted for Rachin Ravindra and returned with figures of 1-20 in the two overs he bowled.

Simon Doull said on Star Sports, “One of the biggest X-factors in the end could be Hardik Pandya. Cutters into the surface, he has really perfected that art.”

Pandya has scalped 102 wickets in 125 T20Is at an average of less than 27.

The cricketer-turned-commentator backed Shreyas Iyer to replace Tilak Varma if the latter fails to recover in time.

“Shreyas Iyer. Middle-order player, plays spin really well. Doesn’t offer you that little bit of bowling that Tilak might offer you, but he fits the mold brilliantly,” he said.

Iyer didn’t play in the opening T20I against New Zealand and Ishan Kishan batted at one drop. But the left-hander was dismissed after scoring only eight runs.

Furthermore, Doull backed Suryakumar Yadav to bat at one down in the T20 World Cup. SKY scored 32 runs off 22 balls against the Kiwis in the series opener while batting at number four. Yadav hasn’t been in the best of form and would want to return to previous best.

The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Raipur on Friday.