Former India coach Ravi Shastri, in June, made an attention-grabbing statement concerning India allrounder Hardik Pandya. While he’s now more and more turning into the no. 1 selection for the T20I captain’s function, he’s nowhere close to the Test match squad. Shastri, whereas commenting on the topic, mentioned that Pandya’s physique just isn’t prepared for the longest format. “His body cannot cope with Test cricket. Let’s be very clear about that,” Shastri advised The Week. “After the World Cup, if his body is fit enough, he should take over captaincy in white-ball cricket. There are seniors ready to be phased out and there are youngsters ready.”

However, India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev disagrees.

“Why? I respect his (Shastri’s) statement or thinking, (but) why? Nobody has had more breakdowns than Dennis Lillee. So, I don’t believe that. Human body can come back from any corner, and come back into top condition. If you say Hardik Pandya, who is such a great athlete, looks so good. If he has to work hard on his body, he has to work hard,” Kapil mentioned throughout an interview with The Week.

Hardik Pandya is among the most useful all-rounder choices for Indian cricket contemplating his potential to bat within the center order and supply a tempo bowling choice to his facet. However, questions rose about his potential to bowl his full quota following a protracted damage spell in 2020. Pandya accomplished his restoration and even proved his mettle within the Indian Premier League (IPL) the place he excelled with each the bat and the ball whereas main Gujarat Titans to their maiden title of their debut season. The all-rounder opened up about his highway to restoration and the way he was decided to return again as a bowler when he finally made his return to the nationwide facet.

“I went back and I was just spending time with myself. I had to figure out what exactly is it that I am aspiring to be. For my bowling, I told the guys in the Indian team that if I come back, I will do so as an all-rounder otherwise I won’t. And I was fine with it because that was the challenge thrown at me. To be honest, I was very happy with the fact that if I don’t play, I was ok,” Pandya was quoted as saying by Jio Cinema.