“It is a very different challenge, we need him to bowl” – Virat Kohli gives update on Hardik Pandya’s Test comeback
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Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli
Hardik Pandya set the white ball series against Australia on fire with a scintillating display of batting. Playing as a specialist batsman, Pandya smashed two 90+ scores in the ODI series before proving his mettle as a finisher in the T20 rubber. The all-rounder hammered 44 to take India over the line in the second encounter as he bagged the Man of the Series award. Following his exploits as a specialist batsman, speculations arose around his Test comeback.
Weighing in on the matter, India skipper Virat Kohli asserts that the all-rounder needs to contribute with the ball if he wants to feature in all whites. Since his back surgery, Pandya is yet to return to full-time bowling duties. The Vadodara allrounder is nurturing himself back to full fitness as he has bowled only four overs, in the second ODI, in the last 14 months.
His bowling brings in a lot of balance
Kohli informs that his Indian Premier League exploits as a batsman tempted the think tank to try him in the role in the white ball series. But Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. The skipper explains that his inclusion in all whites will affect the balance of the side without his bowling aspect.
“He’s been outstanding,” Kohli said in a press conference. “He couldn’t bowl and we knew he’s not going to bowl. But what we saw of him in the IPL, and the headspace that he’s in, you know – you can just see in his game – that he’s wanting to make the team win. But Test cricket is a very different challenge altogether and we need him to bowl. We’ve spoken to him about it.“
“We need him to bowl. That’s when he becomes that one guy who brings a lot of balance for us. If you’ve seen our cricket overseas as well, in South Africa and England, we were able to compete for longer periods through Test matches because of the fact that he brought a lot of balance in terms of his bowling. We’ve communicated that to him.“
Pandya had earlier said, “It’s a different ball game I think I need to be…I mean, I don’t mind. But at the end of the day, it is the call for the management and everyone (to make).” He added last night that he is keen on spending time with his family and not thinking of a Test comeback at the moment.
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