Will Hardik Pandya make a return to Test cricket? Details
Hardik Pandya was seen gearing up for T20I series against Bangladesh, starting October 6, by practicing with a red ball. India and Bangladesh will be playing in a T20I series after the two-Test series ends. A video of all-rounder Pandya bowling with a red ball during a training session in England quickly circulated on X, previously known as Twitter. This sparked widespread interest and speculation about the player's potential return to Test cricket after a six-year absence.
Pandya's Test cricket history and current status
Pandya has not been included in any of the four teams competing in the currently ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024. Pandya's last Test match was played in September 2018. He has hardly played red-ball cricket thereafter with injuries taking a toll. Pandya has played in India's white-ball squads though. Despite this, his decision to practice with a red ball has raised eyebrows within the cricket community.
Pandya's performance in white-ball cricket
Despite his absence from Test cricket, Pandya remains a crucial player in India's white-ball setup. He has accumulated 1,769 runs and claimed 84 wickets in his 86 One Day International (ODI) matches. In addition to this, he has amassed 1,523 runs and claimed 86 wickets in his T20I career spanning over 102 matches.
BCCI's response to Pandya's red ball practice
A senior source at BCCI, as quoted by PTI, responded to the speculation surrounding Pandya's red ball practice. The source stated, "It's heartening to know that Hardik is bowling with red ball but has he really spoken to men who matter (chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma) about his intentions?" This statement suggests that while Pandya's actions have been noted by the BCCI, his potential return to Test cricket remains uncertain.
Pandya's Test numbers and T20 World Cup performance
Pandya has featured in 11 matches and has managed 532 runs at an average of 31.29. He also owns one ton and four fifties. His highest score is 108. As a bowler, he has picked up 17 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 31.05. Pandya played a crucial role in India's 2024 T20 WC win, amassing 144 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 151.57, and a fifty. He also took 11 wickets in eight games.
Pandya needs domestic cricket caps for Test selection.
Pandya cannot make it to the Indian Test squad if he does not participate in enough domestic cricket matches. He not featured in the Ranji Trophy since his last appearance for Baroda in 2018. In First-Class cricket, he has featured in 29 matches scoring 1,351 runs at an average of 30.02. He has 48 wickets in 29 FC matches at an average of 30.95. The BCCI has made it mandatory for majority of first-team Test players to play domestic cricket.
