No one close to Hardik with bat and ball in Indian team: Sehwag

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder pummelled 402 runs in 15 innings in the IPL at a staggering strike rate of 191.42, with a highest score of 91.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has talent unmatched by any other player in the Indian cricket team, says big-hitting former opener Virender Sehwag.

According to Sehwag, Hardik has become irreplaceable in recent times.

The all-rounder has played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians' record fourth title triumph in the IPL recently, coming into the lucrative T20 league after enduring a tumultuous phase following his outrage-evoking remarks on women on a TV chat show.

Having served the ensuing ban, the star all-rounder pummelled 402 runs in 15 innings in the IPL at a staggering strike rate of 191.42, with a highest score of 91.

"There is no one even closer to Hardik Pandya's talent with both bat and ball. If there was someone even closer to him, the three-dimensional players picked by BCCI were even closer to him, Pandya would not have made it back into the team," Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

• 2019 World Cup

Hardik is part of the 15-man Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup and is expected to leave his mark on the showpiece with his exploits.

Along with India team-mate K L Rahul, Hardik was flown back from Australia after the duo made some controversial remarks on the chat show, Koffee with Karan earlier this year.