‘He has done it all’: Ajinkya Rahane backs Hardik Pandya’s no. 5/6 role for India at the Asia Cup 2025

Mayank Bande

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‘He has done it all’: Ajinkya Rahane backs Hardik Pandya’s no. 5/6 role for India at the Asia Cup 2025 image

India will begin its final stretch of preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup at home in February and March 2026, with the Asia Cup from September 9.

Among the crucial members of the squad is Hardik Pandya, who also captained the T20I side before Suryakumar Yadav took over the responsibility in 2024.

The all-rounder has been a regular feature in the playing XI of T20Is and has played some crucial knocks at number 5 and 6 as a finisher, while also contributing heavily with the ball.

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Ahead of the competition, Ajinkya Rahane has spoken highly of the importance of Pandya to this team, who look to clinch the title once again.

Here's what he had to say.

Ajinkya Rahane opens up on Hardik Pandya's importance in Asia Cup 2025:

The Indian all rounder has batted across the lineup for the team, according to the situations, especially excelling in the finisher's role.

Batting at number 4 to 6, he has accumulated 1629 T20I runs in 74 innings at a strike rate of 144.67, only Suryakumar among Indians has scored more runs at the positions since Pandya's debut.

Rahane emphasized how well he calculates the run-chases and situations in the fag-end of the innings and termed him as a key player in his recent YouTube video.

"Hardik's role in this Asia Cup will be really important. As an all-rounder, he has done really well for the team in the past. Coming at No. 5 and 6 as a batter, creating that impact, playing with a high strike rate, reading the situation, & playing according to it, he has done it all," said Rahane.

What is Hardik Pandya's T20I record?

In his 114 T20I career, Pandya has scored 1812 runs with the help of five fifties and strike rate of 141.67.

With the ball, he has picked 94 wickets and is the third highest wicket-taker for India in the format — only 5 behind the table topper, Arshdeep Singh.

**Hardik Pandya's batting record in T20Is**
Matches	Runs	Avg/SR	Highest	50/100
114	1812	27.87/141.67	71*	5/0

**Hardik Pandya's bowling record in T20Is**
Matches	Wickets	Avg/SR	Economy rate	Best figures
114	94	26.43/19.3	8.20	4/16

Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.