Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has openly backed Hardik Pandya to make a return to Test cricket, saying the all-rounder would be a great fit for the Indian team if he comes in at No. 7.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa highlighted, “If Hardik Pandya returns to the No. 7 spot in Tests, it would be wonderful. The way he’s playing. Anything can happen; it’scricket. Never say never. If Hardik decides to play Test cricket, will BCCI ask him not to play? If he says he wants to play and wants to win the World Test Championship (WTC), I don’t think they would say no. I think they are asking him to prove his fitness. Are all-rounders bowling 20 overs? Nitish Kumar is not bowling that much. He’s bowling 12 overs. If he’s to bowl 12–15 overs per innings, I think he can do it the way he’s fit now, the way he’s bowling and batting. It’s his own decision.”
Pandya has played 11 Tests for India, scoring 532 runs and taking 17 wickets. Uthappa also spoke about Pandya’s hunger for trophies.
“He’s won multiple ICC world championships right now. He’swon the ICC trophies – the Asia Cup, the T20 World Cup. He wants to win the ICC World Test Championship; also, then that’s the whole grand slam, right? Which cricketer wouldn’twant to do that for his country? He’s halfway there,” he added.
Uthappa also shared concerns about India’s current Test bowling attack.
He said, “For me, right now it’s Siraj and Bumrah, but after that I can’t [find any]. I can’t say that… Like Prasidh has done well in patches, but that confidence doesn’t augur. I like him a lot, he’s a great guy, hard-working cricketer, great work ethic, but that effectiveness that is there in Test cricket is what you want. Maybe I am old school, I don’t know. Nowadays, economy rate is not a factor in Test cricket. People are okay going for 5–7 runs an over in the pursuit of trying to take wickets, given the way cricket is played… There’s room for improvement in Prasidh.”
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