Former India T20 vice-captain Hardik Pandya has ignited speculation about a potential return to Test cricket after sharing photos and videos of himself practicing with the red ball. Pandya, who last played a Test for India in September 2018 during the England tour, has since dealt with a series of injuries and has largely focused on white-ball formats in recent years.
The talented all-rounder took to Instagram to share an image of himself holding the red ball, followed by videos showcasing his bowling. This has fueled rumours of his intent to make a Test cricket comeback, especially ahead of India’s challenging tours of Australia, England, and New Zealand in the next 18 months.
Will Hardik Pandya Make his return to Test Matches
After recovering from an injury sustained during last year’s ODI World Cup, Pandya has shown excellent fitness, completing successful stints in the IPL, T20 World Cup, and the series against Sri Lanka without any setbacks.
However, earlier in 2023, while leading the Indian T20 side, Pandya had dismissed any immediate return to red-ball cricket. “When will I be seen in whites? Let me fully focus on the blues first, then I’ll think about whites,” he said during a press conference.
As the upcoming red-ball season shifts focus to domestic competitions like the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have been in the spotlight. Pandya’s latest training posts suggest he might be eyeing a return to domestic red-ball cricket to rebuild his Test career.
India has been missing a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder in Test matches, particularly on challenging tours to South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. While Shardul Thakur has stepped up in recent series, Pandya’s potential return could offer a valuable boost to the team as they prepare for their upcoming international fixtures.
