Michael Vaughan says Hardik Pandya should bat in top five for India in ODIs

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was hugely impressed with India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya's all-round performance in the first T20I against England at Southampton on Thursday.

The experienced all-rounder scored 51 off 33 balls and picked up four wickets as Team India comprehensively thrashed England by 50 runs. Having been such a key player in T20Is, Pandya could be an even bigger prospect in ODIs, feels Michael Vaughan. 

India last won the World Cup in 2011, and since then, they haven't been able to win it, despite coming close.

While speaking to Cricbuzz, Michael Vaughan explained why Hardik Pandya could be the missing piece of the jigsaw that Team India requires. The former England international wants Pandya to bat in the top five in the ODI format.

He said: "If Hardik can bowl 6-8 overs in 50-over games then it will help India immensely. He should bat in the top five in any white-ball format. They always had batters and bowlers but didn't have anyone in the top five who could bowl a few overs. I think the way he batted in the IPL was special. If he bats in the top five then it gives so much depth as India can then play an extra batter, extra pacer, or spinner depending on conditions."

Meanwhile, former Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan was also present in the discussion panel on Cricbuzz, and he applauded the all-rounder for his performance.

He added: "Hardik was exceptional with bat and ball. Picked up those four wickets and had a nearly perfect game. Couldn't do anything wrong today. A big, big victory for India to start the series."

Vaughan also feels that Team India have finally found the perfect team to play the T20 format of the game. He always felt the Indian team had the talent, but perhaps they couldn't justify their potential on the field.

Vaughan was impressed with how the Indian batters put a mammoth total on the board in the 1st T20I against England. 

He said: "I think that's the perfect display by India. With the bat, they had good aggression and with the ball, the skill. Brilliant from India, this is their mental storage of how to play T20 cricket."

The veteran also applauded the Indian bowlers, who successfully defended the total and picked up wickets inside the powerplay.

"The conditions can't change in the space of an hour or so that India got lucky to get conditions in their favour. I don't think that's possible, it's just pure skill. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is up there with great swing bowlers and Hardik bowled quick. Some of those balls were fizzing past England's batters," he concluded.

Both teams will face each other in the second T20I on Saturday, July 9, at Edgbaston.