India Squad WTC Final: Hardik Pandya has ruled himself out of a Test return for the World Test Championship Final on June 7. Rohit Sharma’s side reached their second successive summit clash and will face Australia at the Oval, prompting talk of a Hardik Pandya return. The 29-year-old last played a test match in 2018 and has opted out of the most extended format of the game due to a nagging back injury. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Now fit, BCCI remains keen to see whether the ace all-rounder considers a return to red ball cricket. Given India’s dearth of pace-bowling all-rounders, Hardik Pandya could make a case, especially in England’s seam-friendly conditions.
“The Test series has just got over. So, no, we have not discussed anything regarding a Test return with Hardik. But yes, there will be discussions with Hardik on his Test future sometime before WTC. As of now, he is not ‘available’ for Test selection,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Hardik Pandya has not played a Test match since the England tour in 2018. The 29-year-old had previously considered retirement from the format due to persistent injury troubles. However, over the past 18 months, Pandya is fitter than ever. He lifted the IPL 2022 title with Gujarat Titans, while has also assumed the T20I captaincy.
Hardik nonetheless is patient and is not rushing on a Test return. While the prospect of playing the WTC Final is exciting, India’s T20I skipper feels it would be almost ‘unethical’ to make a comeback to the team.
“I haven’t even done 1% to earn the spot in the Test team so taking someone’s place is ethically not right, if I want a place in the Test team, I will grind & earn my spot so I won’t be available for Tests until I feel I have earned my spot,” Hardik said in his press conference ahead of the IND vs AUS 1st ODI.
India Squad WTC Final: Hardik Pandya to return in Test?
- Hardik Pandya last played a Test match on England tour in 2018.
- Since then, Hardik has not played any Test due to back injuries.
- However, now that he is fit, BCCI believes he could make a comeback to the longest format.
- The situation is especially dire with Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah out on long-term injury.
- BCCI is likely to hold talks with Hardik on a possible Test return.
- If he gets the green signal from the NCA, he could return for WTC Final.
- However, at this point, it’s still a far-fetched idea as Hardik will have a tremendous workload during IPL 2023.
Team India calling 🇮🇳 Let’s go ✌️❤️ pic.twitter.com/rPMPr3INyC
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) March 16, 2023
While his reasoning is admirable, Hardik’s presence in the squad would have added some much-needed depth. India already have lost Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna due to long-term injuries. Shreyas Iyer is also a doubt and having Hardik in the middle order as an all-rounder would have given India a much-needed edge. Even Australia struggled in absence of seam-bowling all-rounders like Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green.
With Rishabh Pant also ruled out, Hardik could have acted as India’s enforcer. He has an average of 31.29 in 11 Tests, with four fifties and 1 century. His strike rate of 73.88 is just over Pant’s career strike rate of 73.65. In his absence, Shardul Thakur has assumed the role of a seam-bowling all-rounder with good effect. The Mumbai pacer is expected to continue doing so as long as Pandya remains ‘unavailable’ for selection.
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