Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Robin Uthappa has called on India all-rounder Hardik Pandya to consider a return to Test cricket. The former cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Pandya is capable of bowling around 12–15 overs per innings in the longest format.
At 40, Uthappa believes Pandya should capitalise on his current form and fitness, stressing that there would be no barriers if the all-rounder aspires to lift the World Test Championship (WTC). Sharing his views on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said:
“If Hardik Pandya returns to the No. 7 spot in Tests, it would be wonderful. 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.”
“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.
Hardik Pandya Has Played Only White-Ball Cricket Since 2018 Amid Injury Concerns
Notably, Hardik Pandya currently features exclusively in white-ball formats to carefully manage his workload due to recurring injury concerns. The 32-year-old last appeared in a Test match in 2018, against England.
Once hailed as a potential successor to Kapil Dev, Pandya has played 11 Tests for India, amassing 532 runs, including one hundred and four half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 17 wickets, highlighted by a five-wicket haul.
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