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Dinesh Karthik, former India wicketkeeper-batter, has expressed doubts about Hardik Pandya’s potential return to Test cricket. Given Hardik’s injury history and workload, Karthik believes it will be challenging for the all-rounder to resume playing red-ball cricket after a five-year hiatus.
Speculation around Hardik’s return to the Indian Test side has been sparked by reports of him practicing with the red ball during the off-season. There are indications that he may participate in the Ranji Trophy for Baroda, with an eye on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India’s recent lack of pace-bowling all-rounders has left a gap in the team, with Shardul Thakur emerging as the only reliable option in recent times.
Despite this, Karthik remains skeptical. Speaking on Cricbuzz’s “HeyCB with DK” show, he said, “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.”
Hardik last played a Test match during India’s 2018 tour of England, and his last official red-ball appearance came in the Ranji Trophy that same year.
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India’s All-Rounder Conundrum
The Indian team has often relied on the combination of three seamers and one spinner in overseas Tests, with a pace-bowling all-rounder providing depth to the batting lineup. While Shardul Thakur has performed well in this role, he has recently undergone ankle surgery and is only now recovering.
The other options for India, including Hardik Pandya, face their own challenges. Nitish Kumar Reddy had an underwhelming Duleep Trophy campaign and is yet to debut, while Shivam Dube’s red-ball form has also been inconsistent. This has left India searching for the right balance in their lineup ahead of key overseas assignments.
The cricketing world will be watching closely to see if Hardik can overcome the physical demands of Test cricket and make a successful return to the longest format of the game.
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