As BCCI announced the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 on Monday (September 12), everybody is just talking about it, as the squad sees the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel after they successfully recovered from their respective injuries.

Well, Mohammad Shami didn’t find a place in India’s main squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 and many have been raising questions over the same, while Team India will have two all-rounders in Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda for the showpiece event in Australia next month.

Speaking about India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad, the legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Pandya and said that the star all-rounder can be India's trump card at the mega event.

He further predicted that Hardik can do what Ravi Shastri did for India at the 1985 World Championship of Cricket at the T20 World Cup 2022, starting on October 13 in Australia.

Read Also: WATCH: BCCI to launch Team India’s new jersey ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022

Notably, the former all-rounder Shastri scored 182 runs, including 3 fifties, and picked up 8 wickets in 5 matches to help India record a famous victory in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar told India Today: “Yes, I think he could possibly do what Ravi Shastri did in 1985 where Ravi was the outstanding performer with both bat and ball in the entire tournament. Some good catches as well. Hardik Pandya is capable of doing that.”

He added, “Don't forget, at mid-off, he affects some electrifying run-outs as well. Direct hits at the bowler's end, catching the batter inches short. It's not just the bowling and the batting aspects of Hardik Pandya, but the fielding aspect that could turn the game India's way. I won't be surprised if he is like the Ravi Shastri of 1985, if he is like the Champion of Champions.”

Hardik has scored 331 runs in 15 innings in T20Is in 2022 at a strike rate of over 140 and has picked up 12 wickets as well.