IND vs AUS: If Hardik Pandya Was Fit to Bowl, He Would Have Been Part of Test Squad -Virender Sehwag

Former India batsman Virender Sehwag feels that India all-rounder Hardik Pandya would have been a part of the Test team in Australia if he was fit to bowl in the series.

Hardik Pandya was in a brilliant form in the limited overs cricket series against Australia, scoring 210 runs from three ODIs and 78 runs from three T20Is. He was also awarded Man-of-the-Match twice in the six games.

“If he was bowling, then he would have been a part of the Test team. It is possible Hardik Pandya might have told the selectors not to consider him for the Test matches as he is not bowling fit and that he will only play in the ODIs and T20Is and that he will join back his family,” Virender Sehwag said on the Sony Sports Network.

“But no doubt when he starts bowling, he will be a crucial part of the Test team. Because the manner in which he bats in ODI cricket or T20Is, imagine if he starts scoring those quick runs at No.6 or No.7 in Test cricket, India will be in a good position to win Test matches,” he added.

Notably, Pandya had sustained a back injury in 2019 and since then he had avoided bowling. Even in the just concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, he played like a specialist batsman for Mumbai Indians. In the limited overs cricket series against Australia, Pandya bowled few overs in the 2nd One Day Internationals against Australia.

Shane Warne Backed Hardik Pandya To Play The Test Series Against Australia

Earlier Australia legend Shane Warne, after witnessing Pandya’s form in the recent concluded white-ball series against the Australia, backed the India all-rounder to play the most-anticipated Test series against the hosts.

“They should!!!!! @hardikpandya7 should be in India’s test team. He has the unique ability to energize his teammates and lift all the team around his vibe. Cricket needs characters and superstars like him! Fact,” Warne tweeted few days ago.

India lost the ODI series 1-2 after going down in the first two matches but fought back brilliantly to claim the T20I series with wins in the first and second game respectively.

Now India will play Australia in the four-match Border-Gavaskar trophy series starting at the Adelaide Oval on December 17.