Hardik shows what he can do when fit and firing

Abhishek Sharma crumpled to the floor after an inducker from Marco Jansen stopped on him and smacked him on his midriff. Tilak Varma swished and missed. Both Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav popped up catches to infielders without any timing.

The dampness and slowness in the Cuttack surface made every India batter look silly except Hardik Pandya. On a difficult pitch where even South Africa's batters struggled later in the evening, Hardik conquered the conditions and proved to be the difference-maker, clattering an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, with four sixes. The entire South African batting line-up failed to top his tally of sixes, though the conditions seemingly turned friendlier for batting in the chase.

Hardik had been away from international cricket for over two months with a quadricep injury. However, he batted as if he had never been away. He started with two no-look sixes in his first four balls and never looked back.

Hardik has turned six-hitting into an art where he hardly ever mis-hits, and times the ball beautifully with the stillest of heads and smoothest of bat-swings. Even on this damp pitch. Against both spin and pace. Dale Steyn, who was doing commentary, said he was "frightened for his life."

Anrich Nortje may have experienced a similar feeling when Hardik charged at him and brutally belted a 149kph delivery straight past him. Then when Nortje banged one into the deck at a similar rapid pace, Hardik coolly ramped it over deep third for six more. It was his 100th T20I six - he became the fourth Indian to the landmark in men's T20Is after Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar and Virat Kohli.

"I mean, I had to back my shots," Hardik said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. "At the same point of time, I realised that the wicket had a bit of spice. I had to be a little bit gutsy and it was more about timing the ball and not trying to break the ball. Yeah, I was very satisfied with the way I was batting."

When Hardik had walked out to bat at 78 for 4 in the 12th over, India were staring at a below-par total. He somehow made a bad situation better for India by carrying them to 175 for 6. Then, with the ball, he turned a great situation even greater by having David Miller nicking behind off the inside edge for 1. South Africa eventually folded for 74, their lowest T20I total.

The presence of a fit Hardik opens up endless possibilities for India. He could slot in anywhere in the middle order and ensure batting depth all the way down to No. 8. With the ball, he allows India to have six genuine bowling options, including three attacking ones - on Tuesday, it was Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. On drier pitches, Kuldeep could come in place of Arshdeep and Hardik could take the new ball. Since the start of 2024, India have won 26 of their 29 T20Is outright with Hardik in the side. Without him, India have nine wins, two losses and two ties.

"As a cricketer, I don't think I have ever been fussy about what roles I have in the game," he said. "I've always been very motivated all the time to make sure that it does not matter what Hardik Pandya wants; it matters what India wants. And whenever I get opportunities, I come and try to do my best.

"Some days are good, some days are not. But at the same point of time, it's the mindset which helps me. And I think it's been [the same way] throughout my cricketing career. I've always tried to put my team first, the nation first and whichever team I have played for. I think that's my biggest USP and that's what has always helped me."

Hardik's absence leaves India scrambling for balance, though there's no dearth of white-ball talent in the country. For example, in the 2023 ODI World Cup, an ankle injury to Hardik messed with India's combination. They had to make two changes with Suryakumar coming in as a batter and Mohammed Shami replacing Shardul Thakur. India were forced to compromise on batting depth, with Shami slotting in at No. 8. It didn't work out for them in the end.

It didn't work out for India more recently this October when they were shot out for 125 in Hardik's absence in the Melbourne T20I.

Tuesday's game in Cuttack reminded everyone that everything works out for India when Hardik is fit and that they are unbeatable when he is both fit and firing.