AB de Villiers picks this star player as India's X factor for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

As India fine-tunes its plans for the T20 World Cup 2026, one name continues to stand out as a game-changer. South African legend AB de Villiers has identified Hardik Pandya as India’s “big pivotal player,” underlining the all-rounder’s immense value in high-pressure tournament cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers stressed the importance of players who can influence games in multiple ways.

De Villiers praised the overall balance of the Indian squad, highlighting the depth in both batting and bowling. “There are a lot of players offering skill with both bat and ball so you can really play around with the balance of the squad,” he said, pointing to India’s ability to adapt combinations based on conditions and opposition.

Breaking down the squad, de Villiers noted several prominent absentees. “Abhishek Sharma upfront, Sanju Samson wicketkeeper. I noted no Rishabh Pant here, no Shubman Gill, no Yashasvi Jaiswal, no Jitesh Sharma, so those are the unlucky guys who missed out,” he observed, reflecting the fierce competition for places.

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Why Pandya Is Indispensable

Despite the tough selection calls, de Villiers was clear about Pandya’s importance. “Hardik will be the big pivotal player. He's the guy who can win you games with bat and bowl. He can bowl in any situation, he can bat anywhere in the line up,” he explained.

He also highlighted the psychological edge Pandya brings. “When he walks out to bat, there's a sense in the opposition like we need to get him out… Same with the ball in hand, you feel like he has a golden arm,” de Villiers said, calling him a huge asset for captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Form Backs Reputation

Pandya’s recent performances strengthen that belief. He smashed a maiden List A century133 off 92 balls, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and followed it up with a strong T20I series against South Africa.

With form, flexibility and fear factor on his side, Hardik Pandya appears set to be India’s X-factor as the T20 World Cup approaches.