The Indian team made a great start with a thrilling four-wicket triumph over Pakistan in their 2022 T20 World Cup opener on Sunday. Virat Kohli stole the show with his brilliant 82 runs in what was a nail-biter of a thriller at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Team India, though, was hardly a one-man show. 

India got off to a flying start thanks to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, with the youngster dismissing both openers inside the powerplay. Later in the evening, Hardik Pandya displayed brilliance during his 100-run stand with Kohli. India crossed the finish line in the high-octane drama-filled battle thanks to a collective effort.

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After the game, Pakistan cricket icons Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were blown away by the performance of an Indian star versus Pakistan and dubbed him the "future Indian captain."

Former Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq who was also on a local media sports show, praised Hardik's approach to the chase, saying it displayed his confidence and ability to read situations.

"If we look at Hardik Pandya, he led his side as a captain for the first time in IPL, and the way he led his team, his side won the IPL. From that moment as a captain, he knew how to handle pressure. Especially with the role he is playing in the team as a finisher, and you can be a finisher in the team if you have self-belief in yourself and should be mentally strong, and he was reading the whole outcome on where to take this game." he said.

Waqar quickly interrupted, saying, “I won't be surprised if he is the next Indian captain.”

Akram then praised the Indian all-rounder. "First, he became a captain in IPL, where he won the tournament under his captaincy; now he is the main force of the Indian team, advises the captain, and is learning. If you suddenly put him in the deep end, he will not understand this at all," he said.