ICC World Twenty20: `Fearless` Hardik Pandya could be India`s lethal weapon in big tournament

After Pandya`s knock helped Dhoni and his boys reach a challenging total of 166 runs, the India skipper was full of praise for the 22-year-old.

New Delhi: With each match, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is becoming one of the major assets for the Men in Blue. (Asia Cup 2016: Full Coverage)

India have missed a genuine all-rounder for quite some time and Pandya is slowly emerging as one of the finest all-rounders India have seen in the last few years.

In India's opening Asia Cup match against Bangladesh, Pandya was promoted up the order, ahead of MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, and he lived upto the faith of the team management as he displayed his big-hitting skills during his 18-ball 31 knock.

After his knock helped Dhoni and his boys reach a challenging total of 166 runs, the India skipper was full of praise for the 22-year-old.

"Batting fearlessly is Hardik's strength and that's why we want to give him more matches, he's a good fielder too and a useful third seamer," Dhoni said in the post-match presentation.

"He is an overall package we can promote him often," as that gives them the option of "playing an extra batsman", added MSD.

After a brilliant cameo, Pandya also picked the wicket of Sabbir Rehman (44) who was Bangladesh's highest scorer and was looking dangerous.

In Pandya, India now have a major weapon, who can be promoted up the order when required and can prove very handy with the bat lower down the order as well.

With the ICC World Twenty20 to be played in India from next month, Pandya would certainly be one of the players to watch out for in the prestigious tournament.