Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy – two prominent fast-bowling all-rounder and both are selected in the BCCI’s recently named Duleep Trophy squads. While Dube has been a regular fixture in both white-ball formats for India, Nitish Reddy is touted to be one for the future.
India have another top-quality pace-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya but unfortunately it seems, he is permanently out of picture from the Tests. The former T20I skipper and recently crowned T20 World Cup winner was not considered for any of the four Duleep Trophy team squads. This is a clear sign for India not making any plans for Hardik Pandya’s comeback in Test cricket.
Does India need Hardik Pandya in Tests?
Hardik Pandya is a one-of-a-kind player who has the scarce ability to turn any game on its head, whether with his hard-hitting batting or hit-the-deck bowling. While his white-ball exploits are a surprise to none, his red-ball game has been on hold for six years now. His last appearance in a Test match for India came way back against England in 2018 in Southampton.
Ever since, injuries have put his red-ball career on hold. Playing only two formats, Pandya has also missed quite a few T20Is and ODIs due to his injuries. This has kept him away from Ranji Trophy matches as well, with his last first-class match also dating back to 2018. Despite this, his skillsets are something that India would love to have. A counter-attacking batter at number seven or eight, with the dangerous preposition of acting as a fourth-choice seamer in pace-friendly conditions and a third-choice pacer otherwise.
Gambhir & his 3-format player rule
Although Pandya’s non-exclusion from the Duleep Trophy squads are not that surprising, it takes us to the time when Gautam Gambhir, the Indian head coach, said that all players should be included in all three formats. This raised doubts whether this philosophy will be implemented under his leadership and how it might affect players like Hardik Pandya, who have previously been managed for workload and injury concerns.
However, it surely doesn’t fit with Pandya. Although the Baroda-born player is undroppable from the two white-ball formats, BCCI and Gambhir are excepting their ‘3-format’ principles for the ‘injury-prone match-winner’ that is Hardik Pandya.
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