MUMBAI: Hardik Pandya could soon be turning out for India in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, which begins on December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A few hours after the all-rounder scored a half-century and took seven wickets against Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium - his first competitive game since returning from a back injury which kept him on the sidelines for three months, Pandya was added to the Indian team for the last two Tests in Australia. "He's not available for our next game, as he's going to Australia," Baroda captain Kedar Devdhar said after the game ended in a draw here on Monday.
The 25-year-old picked up the back injury during the Asia Cup in September. In this match, he bowled 18.5 overs in the first innings to claim five for 81, and then batted patiently for 137 balls in scoring 73. In the second innings, Pandya bowled 10 overs to claim two for 21. Interestingly, he bowled only four overs on the morning of the fourth and final day, before leaving the field for good.
Pandya had opted to play the Ranji Trophy over the one-day games on the India 'A' in New Zealand or the Emerging Trophy in Sri Lanka to prove his fitness in the longer format. In 11 Tests, he's taken 17 wickets@31.05, and scored 532 runs@31.29. Apparently, he was asked by the selectors and the team management to prove his fitness by playing for Baroda in this Ranji match, which was attended by national selector and former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh. Sarandeep was seen having a long chat with Pandya after play on Day One.
Pandya's addition is set to add more balance in the Indian side. In his absence, they have chosen to play both the Tests with four specialist bowlers, which at Perth, India had to play without a specialist spinner. This factor has also increased the workload on the bowlers. Even if Ravichandran Ashwin isn't fit, with Pandya coming in, India can now drop one pacer and opt for a specialist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja. His batting ability, and electric fielding could be useful to the team too.
Meanwhile, opener Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out for the remaining two Tests owing to an ankle injury. Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal will replace him.
A few hours after the all-rounder scored a half-century and took seven wickets against Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium - his first competitive game since returning from a back injury which kept him on the sidelines for three months, Pandya was added to the Indian team for the last two Tests in Australia. "He's not available for our next game, as he's going to Australia," Baroda captain Kedar Devdhar said after the game ended in a draw here on Monday.
The 25-year-old picked up the back injury during the Asia Cup in September. In this match, he bowled 18.5 overs in the first innings to claim five for 81, and then batted patiently for 137 balls in scoring 73. In the second innings, Pandya bowled 10 overs to claim two for 21. Interestingly, he bowled only four overs on the morning of the fourth and final day, before leaving the field for good.
Pandya had opted to play the Ranji Trophy over the one-day games on the India 'A' in New Zealand or the Emerging Trophy in Sri Lanka to prove his fitness in the longer format. In 11 Tests, he's taken 17 wickets@31.05, and scored 532 runs@31.29. Apparently, he was asked by the selectors and the team management to prove his fitness by playing for Baroda in this Ranji match, which was attended by national selector and former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh. Sarandeep was seen having a long chat with Pandya after play on Day One.
Pandya's addition is set to add more balance in the Indian side. In his absence, they have chosen to play both the Tests with four specialist bowlers, which at Perth, India had to play without a specialist spinner. This factor has also increased the workload on the bowlers. Even if Ravichandran Ashwin isn't fit, with Pandya coming in, India can now drop one pacer and opt for a specialist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja. His batting ability, and electric fielding could be useful to the team too.
Meanwhile, opener Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out for the remaining two Tests owing to an ankle injury. Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal will replace him.
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
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