Hardik Pandya’s decision to avoid playing Test cricket in recent times have baffled many. One of the leading allrounders in the world, the India star made his Test debut in 2017 and become a key member of the team soon.
However, he has not played Test cricket since the tour of England in 2018 owing to fitness issues. He suffered a serious back injury during the 2018 Asia Cup and has decided to stay away from the longest format of the game since then in order to keep himself fit and focus on limited-overs cricket.
Despite being fully fit from quite some time now, he has decided to focus only on white-ball cricket. And his decision has taken former South Africa allrounder Lance Klusener by surprise. The Proteas great believes that the India allrounder gave up on Test cricket a little bit too easily.
Speaking to the media in Kolkata ahead of his new coaching role with Tripura Cricket Association, Klusener said that players like Hardik Pandya are an asset to any team in the world, in any format of the game.
“He (Pandya) is a fantastic cricketer, and if he can stay fit and continues to bowl 135+ kmph, he will always be challenging as one of the best allrounders in the world,” Klusener said.
When asked whether Hardik Pandya gave up on Test cricket a bit too easily, the former cricketer opined: “Yes, possibly. Test cricket (is) always the pinnacle of testing where you are as a cricketer, and testing yourselves.”
Hardik Pandya on his Test career:
A few weeks ago, Hardik Pandya was asked about his Test career and the chances of returning to the longest format of the game ahead of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final. In reply, Pandya had said that he did not want to block a spot that he did not think he deserved.
“I haven’t done 10 per cent to reach there. I am not even a part of one per cent. So, me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well. If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future Test series until I don’t feel that I have earned my spot,” Pandya had said.
“We have to have faith in our strength and conditioning coaches. I am a guy who trusts his team. These calls of workload, who should play when, who should not play, that is completely on the guys who are professionals and it is their call,” he added.