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Hardik Pandya: Indian cricket team's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen bowling with a red ball during training in England on Thursday. Hardik also posted a video of himself bowling with a red ball. Due to which speculations about his return to Test cricket have intensified. This video of Pandya is becoming very viral on social media.
Hardik Pandya has not played a single Test match since 2018. He decided not to play Test cricket due to fitness reasons. He had lower back surgery in the year 2019. He was asked to play in the final match of the 2023 World Test Championship against Australia. But he turned down the offer saying that he now wants to focus on limited overs cricket keeping his fitness in mind.
From the video posted by Hardik on social media, it can be guessed that Hardik is trying to increase his workload ahead of the T20 series against Bangladesh in October. However, he has not yet informed the team management about his plans for red ball cricket. After the World Cup final in June 2024, Pandya played two T20Is against Sri Lanka. Now his eyes are set on the T20 series against Bangladesh.
However, Hardik's return to red ball cricket may be a bit difficult. The reason for this is that Hardik's fitness has not been good for the last few years. Apart from this, to make a place in Test cricket, he will have to prove himself with the red ball in domestic cricket. Currently Hardik is not playing in the Duleep Trophy.
After making his debut in 2017, Hardik has played 11 Tests so far. In which he has scored 532 runs at an average of 31.29 with the help of one century and four half-centuries. He has also taken 17 wickets at an average of 31.05. Pandya has so far scored 1769 runs at an average of 33 and taken 84 wickets in 85 ODIs. In T20I, apart from scoring 1523 runs in 102 matches, he has also taken 86 wickets.