Hardik Pandya 2.0: All-rounder emerges as India's most valuable player in T20Is

Hardik has often been criticised for not having played a role of an all-rounder when the team needed him the most. But since he made his comeback from injury to the national side in June this year, bowling again at full tilt, Hardik has emerged as a serious match-winner with both bat and ball ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia. For many, he is the most valuable player in the Indian team currently.

AP PhotoThe 28-year-old flamboyant cricketer seems much more relaxed and subdued now. He lets the bat and ball do the talking and continues to silence his critics with his performances. Hardik the batter's ability to take the bowlers to the cleaners is no secret but his resurgence as bowler seems to have fixed the problem for India of having a pace bowling all-rounder. His inclusion adds a lot of balance to the team, giving Rohit Sharma that crucial extra seamer option - something that Pakistan didn't have in their match vs India on Sunday.

A fully recuperated Hardik can now generate pace at will and has been consistently bowling 140 kmph plus. He also has multiple variations, including a potent fast short ball in his armoury that hurried and troubled Pakistan batsmen in the Asia Cup match on Sunday.

Hardik dished out an all-round effort in the match, first returning figures of 3 for 25 and then held his nerve in the nail-biter of a chase, scoring an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls. The way he finished off the match with a six was another reminder of just how confident he is of his own abilities. His confidence was on display when he nodded at his partner Dinesh Karthik after the third ball of the last over of the Indian innings, bowled by Mohammad Nawaz, went for a dot. It was a message to say - 'Don't worry, I have this