India have struggled with all-rounders in the longest format of the game. As an answer to all the problems, the former Indian wicket-keeper Robin Uthappa feels that Hardik Pandya might just be the right name if his fitness and workload are carefully managed.
India’s recent struggles in Test cricket are not invisible. However, the concerns over time and time again have been identified due to a lack of lower-order batting depth and the fifth impactful bowling option. Most of the successful teams in Test cricket produce a seam-bowling all-rounder.
For England, their skipper Ben Stokes does it effectively, while Marco Jansen produces the same impact for South Africa. Australia too have explored around Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, and Beau Webster in the format. However, India have not had a player in the role.
Hardik Pandya backed for Test comeback
Indian cricket has not had a seam-bowling all-rounder in Test cricket since their legendary captain Kapil Dev. Veteran all-rounders include the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Yuvraj Singh in Test cricket, but they all were spin-bowling all-rounders.
Hardik Pandya, the veteran white-ball all-rounder for India, had once played for India in red-ball cricket as well. However, due to frequent injuries and the overloading workload of Test cricket, Pandya opted out of the format to prolong his career in limited-overs cricket.
Former Indian wicket-keeper Robin feels that Hardik Pandya could still have a lot to offer in Test cricket, suggesting the all-rounder is the ideal no. 7 that India has been looking for. He, though, is aware of the fact that Pandya has limited fitness levels and is far from a realistic Test comeback.
“If Hardik Pandya returns to the No. 7 spot in Tests, it would be wonderful,” Uthappa said. “The way he’s playing, anything can happen. It’s cricket. Never say never. If Hardik decides to play Test cricket, will BCCI ask him not to play? If he says he wants to play and wants to win the World Test Championship, I don’t think they would say no.”
Robin Uthappa addressed the bowling workload issues for Pandya in red-ball cricket
Hardik Pandya, as per Robin Uthappa, could be an ideal fit, used up in recent combats, with players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar being used on and off. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa argued Pandya would fit comfortably in the evolving structure if he could manage his workload.
However, India has been using their all-rounders a lot in the bowling front, and that is a concern for Hardik. The ace all-rounder would have to manage an immense workload in the longest format; however, Uthappa pointed out that such marathon spells are no longer a demand of modern-day red-ball cricket.
“Are all-rounders bowling 20 overs? Nitish Kumar is not bowling that much. He’s bowling around 12 overs. If Hardik bowls 12 to 15 overs per innings, I think he can do it with the way he’s fit now, the way he’s bowling and batting. It’s his own decision,” he added.
India have been in the hunt for a seam-bowling all-rounder in Test cricket
India have continued to explore all-rounder options in Test cricket, rotating between Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and even Shardul Thakur. However, Hardik Pandya can be a better prospect with the bat to add alongside the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, or Axar Patel in the lower order.
In his own Test record, Pandya amassed 532 runs in 11 matches at an average of 31.29 and picked 17 wickets as well. He also has a Test hundred for India. Pandya last played first-class cricket domestically back in 2018 and stepped away after struggling with a recurring back injury.
