Former cricketer Ricky Ponting feels Hardik Pandya could have been an X-factor for Team India in the World Test Championship final against Australia in England. He expressed that an all-rounder could have been a valuable option. The final will take place from June 7 to June 11 at The Oval in London.
Hardik Pandya last played a Test for Team India in 2018 against England at Southampton. He has been sidelined from Test cricket due to recurrent fitness issues, causing trouble in bowling long spells. However, Ricky Ponting feels that in a one-off game, Hardik Pandya should have been given a chance.
“I thought about the other day for India in this game is how valuable someone like Hardik Pandya could be in a one-off Test match,” said Ricky Ponting to ICC Review.
“I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game… he’s been bowling every game through this IPL and he’s bowling quick,” he added.
Hardik Pandya could have been the difference between the two teams: Ricky Ponting
Former cricketer Ricky Ponting further expressed that Hardik Pandya could have been the difference between Team India and Australia in the World Test Championship final. He expressed that Hardik’s all-rounder abilities could have proved to be useful in the conditions. The all-rounder has played eleven Test matches for Team India. He has scored 532 runs at an average of 31.29, with a century and four fifties. He also has taken seventeen wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Tests.
“Hardik Pandya could have been that X-factor there just to pick in a one-off game, come in and see what he can do with bat and ball. He could have been the difference between the two teams,” said Ricky Ponting.
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