Mohammed Kaif has sparked fresh debate over India’s batting order ahead of the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. The former India batsman questioned the decision to promote Hardik Pandya to No.5, suggesting the move may not be as straightforward as it seems.
India headed to their Super 8 the opener against South Africa unbeaten, but questions remained over their batting order. Kaif said on his YouTube channel that Hardik does not usually bat at No. 5 and warned that India’s top order could make their tactics predictable.
“Why is Hardik Pandya coming at number five? Hardik Pandya doesn’t usually bat at number five. He played at number five in Delhi against Namibia because there were a lot of left-handers. So because of the left-hander mix, he had to move up the order to balance left-handers and right-handers. That’s a problem because with so many left-handers, planning is a bit easier,” Kaif told the opposition team.
Hardik batted at No. 5 in two of India’s four group matches, scoring 52 against Namibia and 0 against Pakistan. While the numbers reflect mixed returns, the move was clearly part of India’s strategy to keep the left-right combination through the middle overs.
HOW HARDIK WAS AT T20 WORLD CUP 2026
In the four group stage matches, Hardik Pandya scored 87 runs at an average of 21.75 and struck at 155.35. The numbers may not scream dominance, but they underscore his intent and impact. His ability to shift gears late and contribute with the ball has kept him at the heart of India’s balance, even without a headline-grabbing knock.
However, his role is not fixed. In some games, he entered earlier than expected to steady the innings; in others he was delayed to finish. This tactical flexibility is what makes the #5 debate different rather than black and white.
Against the Netherlands, Pandya underlined his all-round value. He blasted a brisk 30 off 21 balls alongside Shivam Dube to take India to 193 and later returned figures of 1/40 with the ball. Although he was taken for 18 runs in the 19th over, India eventually won the encounter by 17 runs, making it 4 wins in 4 group stage matches.
With tougher tests ahead in the Super 8 stage, starting with South Africa in Ahmedabad, the Indian batting set-up will come under more pressure. Whether Hardik proves a smart tactical call at No. 5 or prompts more questions will be shaped by how he responds to these high-stakes encounters.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 20, 2026