Though Hardik Pandya hasn’t played in a Test match in nearly six years, the great Sunil Gavaskar, who turned 75 on Wednesday, believes that the all-rounder’s return to the red-ball setup might make India unbeatable.
When he is fully fit, Hardik has regularly played for India in limited overs teams, where his all-around skills make him an invaluable addition for the Asian powerhouses. The Baroda all-rounder has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but when he is at his best, he contributes greatly with the bat and the ball. Although he has only participated in 11 Test matches, he has played 86 ODIs and 100 T20Is throughout his career.
According to Gavaskar, the addition of Hardik to the Test team might make India extremely challenging to defeat. They might also win the World Test Championship Final and the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 30-year-old should be approached by the management to try to persuade him to play Test cricket, the former captain of India recommended.
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“They can, indeed, do so. I believe that an effort should be made to persuade Hardik Pandya to play Test cricket for the next two months. In an interview with RevSportz, Gavaskar stated, “This Indian team could become invincible and they can surely go on and win the WTC and beat Australia in Australia if he bowls ten overs a day to go with his batting.”
Examining Hardik Pandya‘s brief yet remarkable Test career
Hardik played 11 Test matches and amassed 532 runs at an average of 31.29. During his debut series against Sri Lanka, he hit four fifties and a single century off of just 70 balls. He took 17 wickets at an average of 31.06 with the ball. In his penultimate Test match, he also claimed a five-for at Trent Bridge against England.
Hardik performed admirably at the just finished T20 World Cup after having a terrible season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His all-around skills contributed to India’s record-tying second title victory. After his heroics in the major event, Hardik’s confidence will be at an all-time high, and if healthy, he may be a huge asset in the red-ball arena.
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