Indian batter Hanuma Vihari feels if all-rounder Hardik Pandya is eyeing a Test return, it’s good news for the team. Recently, Pandya was seen practicing with the red ball, triggering reports of his potential comeback to Test cricket.
Pandya last played a Test match for India in 2018 against England at the Oval. Subsequently, Pandya suffered a horrific back injury and later admitted his body isn’t ready for the adversities of Test cricket.
Since the back injury, Pandya has only played in the limited-overs format and he has managed his bowling workload with guile. Pandya also made a fantastic comeback in the T20 World Cup and bowled the final over against South Africa at Barbados, in which he successfully defended 15 runs.
“Hardik, I don’t know, whether he is really keen to come back to the Test format. But, if he wants, I think it’s good news for Indian cricket because an all-rounder like him can really be a boost to the Indian side, especially when we are playing in Perth or the pink-ball Test. You need that extra fast-bowling option, where you can take that advantage,” Hanuma Vihari, Expert Jio Cinema and Sports 18, told IndiaToday.in on Thursday
“I think Hardik Pandya, it totally depends on him, if he wants to make a Test comeback or not. If he wants to do that, he has to play a couple of Ranji Trophy games to get that bowling load back. Because, playing Test cricket compared to ODIs or T20Is, the bowling load and endurance that you need for Test match game is completely different from the other two formats,” he added.
Vihari also noted that India might have moved on from Shardul Thakur and added Pandya will be the team’s first-choice seam-bowling all-rounder if he makes a comeback to Test cricket.
“Shardul Thakur, they have tried and tested him. I am not sure how confident they are because he has played in the Duleep Trophy recently. He has not got great numbers in Duleep Trophy. But he will be in the mix. But, Hardik Pandya, if he is really keen, if he is working hard to come back to the Test format, I think he will be our No. 1 choice,” he added.
Pandya will be seen in action in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
