Former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener feels that star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has given up easily on the longer format of the game, as he dealt with frequent injuries in cricket. The 29-year-old played his last red-ball game in 2018 against England following which he hasn’t tested himself in the test cricket and explained the reason behind Indian performance in red-ball cricket.
Lance Klusener said that Indian pacers have developed very well in the last couple of years as they have bowled exceptionally well in home and overseas conditions, which helped the Indian team to reach the second consecutive final in WTC Final, and reckons that the overseas team would prepare green top pitches for the Indian team, but the Men in Blue now have the resource to play in tough overseas wickets.
“The way the Indian seamers have developed in the last couple of years — a reason why they play in successive WTC finals, that’s why they are one of the best Test sides in the world,” he added.
“Teams in the past would prepare green tops so India won’t be able to compete, but that’s not the case anymore. I think they are now well equipped, whatever the conditions, they will be able to pick the team that will be competitive,” Lance Klusener said.
Indian Pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be crucial for India’s chance against Australia as they can be lethal for the team’s success in England as they have their form in their side and will look to continue their form against Australia in Oval Conditions.
Hardik Pandya Will Always Be Challenging As One Of The Best All-rounders – Lance Klusener
Speaking to the media, Lance Klusener believes that Hardik Pandya can be one of the best all-rounders in red-ball cricket if he opts to play to put some work in the longer format of the game and said that test cricketer is most challenging format as it can test a player at the highest level.
“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 all-rounders in the world. Yes, possibly. Test cricket (is) always the pinnacle of testing where you are as a cricketer, and testing yourselves,” Lance Klusener said.
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 before injuries derailed his Test career.
He 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.
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, he is unlikely to risk his fitness by playing Tests.