Ex-Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has not spared any words in his praise for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, stating that he can play a huge role in making India victorious in the WTC. Gavaskar explained Pandya’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 excellently.
That is how he unleashed his batting ability, scoring 144 runs in just six performances with a healthy strike rate of more than 150. Also, Pandya proved to be useful with the ball during the tournament.
While talking in an interview with Revsportz, Gavaskar emphatically underlined the need to persuade Hardik Pandya to come back to test cricket, although he has shifted towards a format that does not include red leather due to the consistent injuries.
Gavaskar even pointed out that, with Pandya’s ten-over bowling capacity that goes with his aggressive batting style, it is not out of place to imagine the Indian team would soar to the next level in Test cricket.
Highlighting Pandya’s Potential Impact
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During the interview with RevSportz, he came out strongly for conveying the need to bring Hardik Pandya back into Test format as he shifted more to white-ball cricket due to some issues with his arm. Gavaskar emphasized that Hardik Pandya can bring about a very big change, and if he can bowl for ten overs a day besides contributing with the bat, that can take the Indian team to the heights of success.
Hardik Pandya had a good start to his Test career, but due to his injuries, he was able to play only 11 Tests after September 2018. Pandya may have had a mixed run, but the batsman has still been able to score as many as 532 runs in 18 innings and an average of 31. 29, of which one is a century and four are half-centuries. His bowling averages 17 with the ardent bowling style that stands at 5 for 28.
Optimism about India’s Test Prospects: Gavaskar
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Cricket expert Gavaskar, thus, opines that Pandya’s comeback into Test cricket might influence a change in fortune for India in the WTC. India has gotten to the WTC final twice but has suffered losses to New Zealand and Australia. This optimism can be attributed to Pandya stating that he offers variety to the side besides being a match-winner.
Tactical Significance in Place of the Australia Series
With the Indian team set to face a challenging Test series of five matches in Australia, the nod given to Hardik Pandya’s possible comeback has brought out the tactical value of the all-rounder. An eminent cricket expert on NDTV, Gavaskar, has pointed out the availability of Pandya and what he has been doing in the recent past.
Especially at the T20 World Cup this year, where he performed exceptionally as a batsman and also bowled useful overs. The next series against Australia can be considered an extra motivation, which Gavaskar confides in Pandya’s skillful and effective play.
It is a case of high stakes for India, as it is their chance to go for their first World Test Championship title, which they have been agonizingly close to achieving against New Zealand and Australia. Gavaskar’s faith that Pandya, to bowl ten overs a day and offer explosive batting inputs, could influence the equilibrium in India’s favor explains his position.
Ever-present critics and fans alike were on Pandya’s possible return and its influence on India’s search for Test superiority.
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