Hardik Pandya: Expressing his views candidly, ex-India captain Kapil Dev has remarked that he doesn’t hold positive views about all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s extensive involvement in Test matches moving forward. Kapil concurred that Pandya should engage in the longer format if he’s in good physical condition, yet he remains skeptical about the likelihood of such a scenario happening.
What did Kapil Dev say on Hardik Pandya?
The ongoing discussion regarding whether Pandya’s physique can endure the demands of Test cricket has been a prevalent topic within Indian cricket circles for some time. Despite making his debut in red-ball cricket for India during the Sri Lanka tour in 2017, the 29-year-old has not participated in a Test match since the England tour in 2018.
As per the insights of former England captain Nasser Hussain, India’s prospects in overseas Test matches would significantly benefit from having an all-rounder akin to Ben Stokes. In response to queries regarding whether Hardik Pandya can fulfill this role for the Indian team in red-ball cricket, Kapil Dev commented: “Doesn’t look like he will.” The Indian legend added, “I saw his photograph on the billboard today. I don’t know whether they did any touch-up or not, but in that, he looked like having one of the finest bodies we have in the country. Yes, he should play more cricket because he has so much ability. If he is fit, he should play Test cricket also.”
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Ravi Shastri on Hardik Pandya playing in Tests
During a previous interview, Kapil Dev had expressed a differing opinion from former India head coach Ravi Shastri’s stance, which claimed that Hardik Pandya’s physique might not withstand the rigorous demands of Test cricket. It’s worth noting that the Indian all-rounder endured a significant lower-back injury during the Asia Cup in 2018, which has subsequently impacted his bowling abilities.
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