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Parthiv Patel addresses Hardik Pandya’s Test Comeback Speculation
Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel recently addressed the rising speculation around Hardik Pandya’s return to Test cricket after the all-rounder was seen bowling with a red ball during a practice session in England. Hardik, who posted a video of the session on Instagram, caught the attention of fans and analysts, fueling rumours about his potential comeback to the longest format of the game.
Parthiv Patel Clarifies Hardik’s Red-Ball Practice
Parthiv, however, dismissed the rumours, stating that Hardik was using a red ball merely because a white ball was not available during the practice session. “I’m not looking at Hardik Pandya (in Tests). He was practising with the red ball only because the white ball wasn’t available,” Parthiv shared in an interview with Jio Cinema.
Hardik’s Fitness Concerns and Test Future
Addressing Hardik’s future in Test cricket, Parthiv expressed doubts about the cricketer’s ability to handle the physical demands of the format due to his history of injuries. “I don’t think his body allows four-day and five-day matches,” he said, adding that Hardik would need to play at least one first-class match before being considered for selection, a scenario Parthiv deemed “very unlikely”.
Hardik Pandya’s Test Career So Far
Hardik, who made his Test debut for India in 2017, has featured in just 11 Tests so far. He has accumulated 532 runs at an average of 31.29 and has taken 17 wickets. His last appearance in the format came in 2018, before injuries sidelined him from longer formats of the game.
While Hardik has been a regular in India’s white-ball squads, his potential return to the Test arena remains uncertain. With Parthiv’s comments putting things into perspective, it appears fans may have to wait longer to see Hardik don the whites again.
