Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar, has urged the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Test team. Gavaskar believes Pandya’s presence could make the Indian squad unbeatable in red-ball cricket, helping them secure their first World Test Championship title and achieve landmark victories in Australia.
Pandya, a key contributor to India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in June, has not played Test cricket in nearly six years. During the global tournament, he demonstrated his all-around prowess, picking up 11 wickets and scoring 144 runs. Hardik has established himself as a match-winner for India in ODIs and T20Is. But it’s still unclear if Sunil Gavaskar’s advice will be considered by the team management, who could decide to bring Pandya back into the Test squad.
India’s upcoming schedule is packed with high-stakes Test matches. In October, they will face New Zealand in a three-Test series, followed by a tough five-Test clash against Australia in November. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that Pandya’s versatile all-round skills could be the key to India’s success in these crucial fixtures.
“Over the next two months, the selectors should make a concerted effort to convince Hardik Pandya to return to the Test team. If Pandya bats at number 6 or 7 and bowls just 10 overs per day, his batting alone could make this Indian team virtually unbeatable, regardless of the conditions or venue,” stated Gavaskar to RevSportz.
Gavaskar’s faith in Pandya’s potential stems from the cricketer’s versatility and impressive recent performances. Though Pandya has played in just 11 Test matches, he has already showcased glimpses of his superb game, hinting at his ability to fulfill the crucial role of a pace-bowling all-rounder.
In 11 Tests, Hardik scored 523 runs and claimed 17 wickets. However, he has not played a Test since 2018, having been sidelined due to injury and workload management concerns. Hardik has now declared his unavailability for Test cricket, stating that his body cannot withstand the rigors of competing across all three formats.
