India's Hardik Pandya hits a six against Pakistan during their Champions Trophy match in Birmingham on Sunday.
London: Virat Kohli has backed Hardik Pandya to showcase his credentials as the future of Indian cricket with another swashbuckling display against Sri Lanka today.
Pandya has emerged as one of India's most promising talents since making his debut last year and Kohli sees signs his young prodigy is ready to take his development to the next level.
Having played a key role in Mumbai Indians' IPL triumph earlier this year, the 23-year-old all-rounder underscored his rapid emergence by making a bright start to his country's Champions Trophy campaign
In an indication of the level of respect he is already held in by Indian captain Kohli, Pandya was prompted up the batting order ahead of the great MS Dhoni and responded by smashing 20 not out of just six balls in Sunday's 124-run victory over Pakistan in Birmingham.
Pandya wasn't finished there and he chipped in with two key wickets as holders India launched their title defence in swaggering style.
With India due to play their second Group B match against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Thursday, Kohli suggested Pandya is well on his way to become one of his country's finest players.
"He's a real asset to Indian cricket. It's very hard to find someone who can almost touch 140 Ks and who strikes the way he does," Kohli told a press conference at the Oval yesterday.
"He can bat through the innings as well. It's really hard to find people with that kind of ability.
"Once you have a player like that, you need to make sure he's always committed to give 100 percent for the team.
"That comes naturally to Hardik. So you don't need to motivate him any further in any other way."
Pandya's boisterous personality and fun-living lifestyle has irked some of the more conservative figures in Indian cricket.
But Kohli believe Pandya's self-styled rockstar image isn't a hinderance to fully utilising his vast gifts.
"People should appreciate his skill and what he brings to the table," he said.
"A lot of people focus on a lot of other things with Hardik, which I don't think should be anyone else's problem. He has his own journey, and he's finding his own way.
"If he gets the kind of support that a player like him should get, I think he could go down as one of the most accomplished Indian cricketers in times to come.
"He's superb in the field, superb with the ball, brilliant with the bat.
"The kind of balance he brings to the team is priceless."
With Pandya to the fore, Kohli's team are expected to beat Sri Lanka en route to retaining the Champions Trophy.
