<p>If India wrapped Hardik Pandya up in cotton wool while he recovered from back surgery, that investment is now paying off with the all-rounder proving his worth on their limited-overs tour of England.</p>.<p>Pandya, an explosive batter and a crafty seam bowler, underwent lower back surgery in 2019 and has since often played purely as a batter while India waited for him to resume bowling regularly.</p>.<p>The 28-year-old signalled he has regained full fitness on their tour of England, claiming 4-24 and smashing 71 in Sunday's series-clinching victory in the final one-dayer.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/my-body-is-fine-bowling-without-trouble-hardik-1127555.html">My body is fine, bowling without trouble: Hardik</a></strong></p>.<p>He bowled at full tilt in the preceding T20 series in England too claiming 4-33 in Southampton to go with a half-century in that match.</p>.<p>Former England captain Michael Vaughan has termed Pandya the most important man in the India team and he is not the only one who believes so.</p>.<p>"Hardik Pandya is fast becoming India's most important player in white-ball cricket," tweeted former India opener Aakash Chopra. "A fit Hardik is simply priceless..."</p>.<p>Pandya said it felt "special" to be able to contribute with both bat and ball.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/india-bowl-out-england-for-259-in-third-and-final-odi-match-1127532.html">India bowl out England for 259 in third and final ODI match</a></strong></p>.<p>"That has given me a lot of confidence when I have been able to do that. It adds layers to my game," he said after Sunday's victory in Manchester.</p>.<p>With the T20 World Cup looming later this year in Australia, Pandya bowling at full throttle is music to the ears of the team management.</p>.<p>Pandya was particularly impressed with his cunning use of short-pitched bowling to remove Ben Stokes and batter Liam Livingstone.</p>.<p>"I'm a control bowler. I don't have much skills to get the batter out opening him up, nipping the ball inside and all that," said Pandya.</p>.<p>"I try to outsmart a batter, I try to think one step ahead of the batter ... I bend my back or come out and bowl as quick as possible only when required."</p>
<p>If India wrapped Hardik Pandya up in cotton wool while he recovered from back surgery, that investment is now paying off with the all-rounder proving his worth on their limited-overs tour of England.</p>.<p>Pandya, an explosive batter and a crafty seam bowler, underwent lower back surgery in 2019 and has since often played purely as a batter while India waited for him to resume bowling regularly.</p>.<p>The 28-year-old signalled he has regained full fitness on their tour of England, claiming 4-24 and smashing 71 in Sunday's series-clinching victory in the final one-dayer.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/my-body-is-fine-bowling-without-trouble-hardik-1127555.html">My body is fine, bowling without trouble: Hardik</a></strong></p>.<p>He bowled at full tilt in the preceding T20 series in England too claiming 4-33 in Southampton to go with a half-century in that match.</p>.<p>Former England captain Michael Vaughan has termed Pandya the most important man in the India team and he is not the only one who believes so.</p>.<p>"Hardik Pandya is fast becoming India's most important player in white-ball cricket," tweeted former India opener Aakash Chopra. "A fit Hardik is simply priceless..."</p>.<p>Pandya said it felt "special" to be able to contribute with both bat and ball.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/india-bowl-out-england-for-259-in-third-and-final-odi-match-1127532.html">India bowl out England for 259 in third and final ODI match</a></strong></p>.<p>"That has given me a lot of confidence when I have been able to do that. It adds layers to my game," he said after Sunday's victory in Manchester.</p>.<p>With the T20 World Cup looming later this year in Australia, Pandya bowling at full throttle is music to the ears of the team management.</p>.<p>Pandya was particularly impressed with his cunning use of short-pitched bowling to remove Ben Stokes and batter Liam Livingstone.</p>.<p>"I'm a control bowler. I don't have much skills to get the batter out opening him up, nipping the ball inside and all that," said Pandya.</p>.<p>"I try to outsmart a batter, I try to think one step ahead of the batter ... I bend my back or come out and bowl as quick as possible only when required."</p>