Cricket experts want Hardik Pandya’s Test comeback after India’s recent series draw with England. Former New Zealand player Craig McMillan thinks India really needs their star all-rounder back.
McMillan watched India struggle without a proper all-rounder during their recent tour of England. He believes the team looks incomplete when they play overseas without Hardik’s skills.
Why India Misses Hardik in Test Cricket
India has tried other players, such as Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy, instead. But these players don’t bring the same impact that Hardik provides with bat and ball.
The New Zealand legend explained that different countries need different types of all-rounders. Fast-bowling all-rounders work better in places like Australia and England, he said.
“In Asian conditions, you need a spin-bowling allrounder like Jadeja, Washington, or previously R Ashwin. In NZ, Australia, and England, you need a fast-bowling allrounder. It is where India are missing a player like Hardik Pandya who can bowl medium pace and bat lower down the order. For England, Ben Stokes is two players in one,” McMillan said.
McMillan thinks Hardik Pandya’s Test comeback would solve many problems for Indian cricket. The team could balance their playing eleven much better with him around.
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Hardik started his Test career on July 26, 2017, and played 11 matches total. He scored 532 runs and picked up 17 wickets during that time.
Back Injury Problems Keep Him Away
Hardik stopped playing Test cricket in 2018 because of serious back injury concerns. His fitness issues forced him to focus only on shorter cricket formats.
The all-rounder chose to protect his body by avoiding the longer format completely. Test matches put more strain on fast bowlers than ODIs and T20s.
BCCI medical staff supported his decision to skip Test cricket for health reasons. They wanted him fit for World Cups and important limited-overs tournaments.
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But now cricket experts think his fitness has improved enough for Test cricket. Many former players believe Hardik Pandya’s Test comeback should happen soon.
What This Means for Indian Cricket
McMillan also praised new Test captain Shubman Gill during his comments about Indian cricket. He thinks Gill will learn from his early experiences as a leader.
“He looks a good captain. The first series is very tough. In such a pressure-cooked series, he probably made a few mistakes. But you expect those in his first series. He will get better with experience. He is the future, so India will invest in him. He will get to know his team’s game, which I think is really important, and the style of play,” McMillan said.
The former New Zealand batsman wants India to decide on their playing style moving forward. He believes clear plans help teams succeed in different countries.
Cricket fans hope BCCI considers bringing Hardik back for the upcoming Test series abroad.
