Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not been in touch with the longest format of the game for quite a long time. The last Test match Hardik played was on England tour in 2018.
However, It is likely that the Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee and the BCCI will discuss his Test future with Hardik before the WTC Final as India is the favorite to take the 2nd spot in the WTC Final after Australia.
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“There is no hurry for him to return to Test but yes, it would be better to have some clarity. We will discuss this sometime before the WTC Final. He could play an important role in England considering Bumrah is out for a while. But there is absolutely no pressure on him to return to Test cricket immediately,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
With Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant both out of the Test team due to long-term injury, some in the BCCI feel he can add value to the team. However, BCCI is reluctant considering his history of injuries.
“At the moment, he is not available for selection in Tests. You definitely have to take into consideration his past history of injuries. Rushing him to play all three formats could be detrimental. But if the NCA, Medical Team and Hardik himself feel he is ready for Test return, he will be in fray for sure,” the official told InsideSport.
Hardik could fill in and add value to the squad like Camron Green or Ben Stokes does to Australia and England respectively.
