Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has urged Hardik Pandya to return to Test cricket. In his pitch, Uthappa argued that even the team’s current pace all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, doesn’t bowl much,
adding that even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wouldn’t mind if Pandya proves his fitness.
Pandya last played Test and First-Class cricket in 2018. That year, due to a back injury, he gave up the red-ball formats, zeroing his focus on white-ball cricket only. It was deemed at the time that the bowling load in Tests was too much for his body. It has paid dividends, as Pandya has cemented his place as one of the most important players in the team, despite his occasional bouts with injuries.
India have flirted with pace all-round options a lot more in recent times, with Reddy, Shardul Thakur, and even Harshit Rana to some extent, being the main contenders.
“If Hardik Pandya returns to the No. 7 spot in Tests, it would be wonderful,” Uthappa said in a video on his YouTube channel. “The way he’s playing. Anything can happen; it’s cricket. Never say never. If Hardik decides to play Test cricket, will BCCI ask him not to play? If he says he wants to play and wants to win the World Test Championship (WTC), I don’t think they would say no. I think they are asking him to prove his fitness. Are all-rounders bowling 20 overs? Nitish Kumar is not bowling that much. He’s bowling 12 overs. If he’s to bowl 12-15 overs per innings, I think he can do it the way he’s fit now, the way he’s bowling and batting. It’s his own decision.”
Uthappa also dangled the ‘completing cricket’ carrot for Pandya.
“He’s won multiple ICC world championships right now. He’s won the ICC trophies – the Asia Cup, the T20 World Cup. He wants to win the ICC World Test Championship also, then that’s the whole grand slam, right? Which cricketer wouldn’t want to do that for his country? He’s halfway there,” he added.
