Asia Cup 2025: 'He will always be a leader, whether he’s the captain or not' - Ex-India assistant coach explains Hardik Pandya's importance

Published - 19 Aug 2025, 18:57 IST | Updated - 19 Aug 2025, 18:59 IST

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar lauded Hardik Pandya for stepping up time and again when the Men in Blue are under pressure. The Baroda all-rounder was picked in India's 15-man squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup in the UAE, which runs from September 9 to 28.

Nayar, who has seen Pandya honing his skills from close quarters during his time in the Indian setup, commended the 31-year-old's all-round abilities and described him as a game changer. The former India all-rounder also said that Pandya's presence at the crease gives hopes to fans that something incredible could be on the cards.

“An absolutely invaluable player for Indian cricket—and when you look at world cricket, how many players do you really have who can bowl with the new ball, bowl at the death, deliver four overs consistently, and also play impact knocks against both spin and pace? He’s an absolute game changer,” Nayar said on Star Sports.

“I think more than anything, his biggest strength is his personality. Just sitting there in the dressing room or the dugout, and knowing that when he’s out in the middle, there’s always an assurance that something remarkable can happen,” he added.

Nayar said that Pandya deserves a lot of credit for India going the distance in the 2024 T20 World Cup. A member of the Kolkata Knight Riders' support staff, Nayar stated that Pandya's bring leadership to the Indian team, even when he is not the captain.

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“We are the current world champions also because of those overs he bowled under pressure. Not only with the bat, but with the ball as well, he has consistently shown his ability to deliver in tough situations,” Nayar pointed out.

He definitely brings leadership to the group. He will always be a leader, whether he’s the captain or not. And like I said, more than just a cricketer, it’s his personality and the aura he brings to the team that matters a lot to these young players,” he said.