Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has backed Hardik Pandya to be India’s X-factor in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Pandya has performed consistently for India in the white-ball formats and Clarke reckons the Indian team missed his services in the Border-Gavaskar trophy against Australia.

Pandya picked three wickets in three ODI matches against England at an average of 42.67. Furthermore, the all-rounder scalped five wickets in five T20Is against the visitors and also took the new ball along with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami. 

The right-hander also scored 112 runs in five T20Is against the tourists and he would look to carry his good form.

Michael Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, “The one for me that I think they missed through the Australian summer, who is a part of their shorter format, is Hardik Pandya. I think he’s a superstar. I think he’s an x-factor and I think he will have a huge tournament. So I’m saying India are the favorites and they’re in my top four.”

Meanwhile, India will deeply miss the services of their gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (ruled out with a back injury) in the eight-team tournament. However, Clarke has tipped India as the favorites for the competition despite Bumrah’s absence.

“I think there’s no doubt about it they’ll miss Bumrah. I think he is a huge loss. But you look through that squad, it is so strong. I think India are the favourites even without Bumrah. I’ve got them in my top four. Shubman Gill’s been in good form. Rohit Sharma, a hundred a couple of games ago, so he’s back in form. I still think they’re the favourites to win the Champions Trophy.”

India has named greenhorn pacer Harshit Rana as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in the Champions Trophy squad.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.