Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain raised his concerns about the absence of Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the World Test Championship final against Australia. The 29-year-old has not played Test cricket since the tour of England in 2018 owing to fitness issues.
Hardik Pandya made his debut in Tests during the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2017 and became an important member of the team soon. The all-rounder looked like an indispensable member of India’s Test team especially on the overseas tour before injuries derailed his Test career.
Indian bowling combinations were criticized by many cricket experts, as they decided to drop the World No.1 spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing 11 in favour of Shardul Thakur to provide the fourth seamer option in the team.
Speaking on commentary, Nasser Hussain asked questions about Hardik Pandya’s absence from the team for a one-off test against Australia, stating the example of Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who provides a perfect balance for the Australian team as he can contribute with both bat and ball for the Baggy Greens.
“At the toss this morning, it was so apparent that India was not sure about their side and Australia was crystal clear and Cameron Green has a lot to do with that. He just balances the side away from home in England. He is the sort of cricketer that India would have loved to have.
“Of course, Shardul Thakur is a seam-bowling all-rounder of kinds. In India, you’ve got Jadeja, Ashwin, and Axar Patel. They are complete all-rounders in Indian conditions but what about a seam-bowling all-rounder when you go overseas? Where is Hardik Pandya?” Nasser Hussain Said On Air.
Pandya has played 11 Test matches for India and has been out of the Indian Test team owing to his injury problems. Pandya has 532 runs and 17 wickets to his name in the red-ball format of the game but has not played in the traditional format of the game since September 2018.
He Didn’t Feel It Was Fair On Everyone Else – Ricky Ponting On Hardik Pandya’s Absence In Team
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said that, earlier Hardik Pandya was asked about his availability for the one-off test for WTC Final, but he refused to take up opportunities to play for India in the longer format of the game stating that it could not be fair on others players, who worked hard in the last couple of years to earn their spot in the Indian side.
“That’s the one line that was mentioned in a commentary earlier today. He made it clear that he feels his body won’t get through the rigors of Test cricket.
“He was thrown up in a game like this what do you think about playing in a game like this, just a one-off Test just to help the balance of the side? And he replied that he didn’t feel it was fair on everyone else who has been through this journey in the last couple of years leading into this game,” Ponting answered.
The Gujarat Titans skipper has been focusing on white-ball cricket and it looks like he would continue to do so for the foreseeable future. With an ODI World Cup scheduled this year, being the vice-captain of the team he is unlikely to risk his fitness by playing Tests.