"If he starts batting at no. 6 or 7, maybe bowling just ten overs a day, but there with his batting, this Indian team will be pretty much invincible in any country, on any kind of surface."
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All-rounder Hardik Pandya should be included in Test cricket, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who believes that this will make the Indian team unbeatable in red-ball cricket. According to Gavaskar, Pandya’s return to the Test team could be crucial to India winning big in Australia and winning the World Test Championship (WTC) for the first time.
Pandya hasn’t played Test cricket in over six years, but he was crucial to India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
Hardik’s recent performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, which featured 11 wickets and 144 runs, demonstrated that he has developed into an India match-winner in both ODIs and T20Is. It’s uncertain, though, if the team management will take Gavaskar’s advice.
India will play a tough four-Test series against Australia in late November after playing three Test matches against New Zealand in October. Gavaskar is certain that Pandya’s versatility might be the difference-maker for India in these important matches. “I’m hoping that, in these next two months, there will be some effort made to try and convince Hardik Pandya to come back to Test cricket,” Gavaskar stated to RevSportz.
“If he starts batting at no. 6 or 7, maybe bowling just ten overs a day, but there with his batting, this Indian team will be pretty much invincible in any country, on any kind of surface.”
Gavaskar’s faith in Pandya’s potential influence stems from his recent form and adaptability. Pandya has only played 11 Test matches in his career, but he has had moments of brilliance that indicate he might play a key role as an all-rounder who can bowl quickly.
Hardik had 11 appearances in Test cricket for India, scoring 523 runs and claiming 17 wickets. 2018 saw him play his final Test match for India against England before being sidelined due to an injury and issues managing his workload. Hardik has stated that he is not prepared to play Test cricket for India because he cannot handle the physical demands of playing all three forms.
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