“Wow, that would be really good,” Dinesh Karthik talks about Hardik Pandya’s prospect of playing red-ball cricket
Hardik Pandya is expected to feature in the Ranji Trophy for Baroda while tying to make a comeback in the Indian Test team.
Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya (Via Cricket.com)
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is excited at the prospect of Hardik Pandya making a comeback in red-ball cricket. He feels that the Indian all-rounder will be extremely crucial for the team in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar trophy with his fast bowling and batting. However, he is surprised that Pandya is gearing up to play Test cricket, given the stress on his body and the concerns regarding his injury over the years.
Pandya hasn’t played red-ball cricket for over six years. The Indian all-rounder has suffered many injuries, especially problems on his back and hence he has restrained himself from playing the longest format of the game. However, reports suggest that Pandya is making himself available for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, given that he is practicing with the red ball in the nets.
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.
Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show
It will be interesting to see if Pandya does make himself available for the red-ball game in domestic cricket. The Indian all-rounder has really elevated his fitness levels but bowling and batting together in the longest format is altogether a different level of stress on the body.
Team India might need the help of Hardik Pandya in the Border-Gavaskar series
India will travel to Australia for a 5-match Test series in the Border-Gavaskar series of 2024-25. Besides the three premier fast bowlers, India will need to have a fast bowling all-rounder who can bowl 10-12 overs a day and can bat down the order.
India have utilized Shardul Thakur before and he has won some matches with the bat and also with the ball. He did it with the bat in the Gabba Test against Australia in 2021 and the Oval Test against England in 2021. Moreover, he chipped in with the ball in the Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg.
However, Thakur has been pretty inconsistent. The addition of Pandya will ultimately strengthen the Indian line-up and they can play three premier paces most, notably Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj in the line-up. It all depends on how Pandya shapes up while playing with the red ball in domestic cricket.
Rohit Sarkar
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