‘He’s got an aura about him’ – Stuart Broad warns England to be wary of Hardik Pandya

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has heaped praise on Hardik Pandya and his match-winning ability ahead of India’s semi-final clash against England on Thursday, March 5.

Broad insisted that the English bowlers should try and get the Baroda-born all-rounder in the middle overs where he is not at his dangerous best compared to the death overs. Pandya otherwise possesses the unique ability to back himself to take India to a huge total.

“If I am an England bowler, I think I need to get him in after 12 overs so I can bowl when he’s not in the hitting zone straightaway. I would see that as my chance to get him out before he can hurt me in the last four overs. If India are just three or four down entering the death overs, that’s where India gets over 200, and you are in a bit of trouble,” Broad said on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.

“If India sets up a good first ten overs, Hardik Pandya becomes a huge danger. When he walks in, he’s extremely confident. He has got an aura about him and an ego on him in a positive way. He just believes he can do the job. He is so wiry and slim that you think how he can hit the ball 100 metres as he does. But he does it so effortlessly,” he added.

Prior to the start of the much-awaited semi-final against the Three Lions at the Wankhede Stadium, Pandya has 172 runs and six wickets in the 2026 T20 World Cup. His best outing in the competition came against Namibia where he scored 52 and took two wickets.

The Mumbai Indians skipper already has one impactful outing against England in a T20 World Cup semi-final, as he scored 63 from just 33 balls back in 2022. The Men in Blue, however, suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat on that occasion with Alex Hales and Jos Buttler chasing down 169 with four overs to spare.