Hardik Pandya has got to mature a bit more: Tim Bresnan

Tim Bresnan, who expects the India all-rounder to play a significant role in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Besides his exploits with the bat and ball, Pandya has also displayed his leadership skills since coming back from an injury layoff, leading Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title on debut. At the recently-concluded Asia Cup too, Pandya showed how crucial he is to the Indian team, when he fashioned a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the tournament opener.

"Definitely, a pace bowling all-rounder is quite crucial, it balances your team, it gives you two cricketers in one," the 37-year-old Bresnan, who is representing LNJ Bhilwara Kings in the second edition of Legends League Cricket here, told PTI in an interaction. Pandya has battled injury in the past and the team think-tank is mindful of his workload management, giving him rest for the upcoming T20I series South Africa. Bresnan remarked that it's because of the demanding nature of his position.

"It's a tough position to play because you are always involved in the game, so it's quite demanding physically. Fast bowling all-rounders are worth the weight in gold. "Hardik is really good on the field as well, he's a very good athlete.

He's got to mature a bit more, then he is going to be a top, top player," Bresnan, who called it quits after playing for 20 years, added. Bresnan has not followed the Asia Cup and India's early exit but picked the Rohit Sharma-led side as one of the semifinal contenders alongside Australia, New Zealand, England for the T20 world Cup. "You can't discount India ever...