Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is training rigorously for a comeback after a two-month break.
Despite showing promising signs with his training clips, Dinesh Karthik expressed doubts over Pandya’s potential return to the Test arena, given his recent fitness levels.
Karthik believes it won’t be easy for Hardik, who last played a red-ball game in 2018, to cope with the rigors of Test cricket.
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Is Hardik Pandya eyeing a comeback in Test cricket?
Hardik Pandya, who recently missed the ODI series against Sri Lanka, is now gearing up to feature in the T20I series against Bangladesh next month.
His efforts to regain full fitness include rigorous training sessions, where he has been seen practicing with the red ball.
The 30-year-old’s dedication has led to speculation about his return to Test cricket, a format he hasn’t played since 2018. Pandya’s last outing in the whites came against England in Nottingham, where he delivered a memorable spell, taking 5 wickets for 28 runs.
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Dinesh Karthik believes Hardik Pandya's fitness is a hindrance to play Test cricket
While the idea of Hardik returning to Test cricket is appealing, Dinesh Karthik feels it’s far from straightforward.
Speaking on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show, Karthik shared his thoughts, stating that Hardik’s body may not be suited for the long format given his history of injuries.
"Wow, that would be really good. Especially someone with his skill set, so fast bowling and batting in Australia would be good, but to be very honest, I would be very surprised, because I know his body; it's not that easy for him to play Test cricket where he is today, so I again will be surprised," Karthik remarked.
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How did Hardik perform in Tests previously?
Hardik Pandya’s Test career has had its highlights. Since making his debut in 2017 against Sri Lanka, he has played 11 matches, scoring 532 runs including one century and four half-centuries.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 11 | 18 | 532 | 108 | 31.29 | 1 | 4 |
Pandya has also taken 17 wickets in his short Test career so far.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Wickets | BBI | Average | Strike Rate | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 11 | 19 | 17 | 5/28 | 31.05 | 55.1 | 1 | 0 |
However, his extended absence from the format due to fitness concerns has left a significant gap, and returning to the red-ball arena might be a strenuous challenge for the Baroda cricketer.
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