WTC Final 2023: Hardik Pandya Opines on His Chances to be in the Test Team

WTC Final 2023: Team India’s ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been one of the best all-rounders for the Indian team and he has been impressive in the longer format with 532 runs and 17 wickets from 11 Test matches so far as well. However, he has been out of action from red-ball cricket since playing his last game against England in 2018. The talented player suffered a recurring back injury after that and decided not to play in red-ball cricket and focus on limited formats only as well.

However, Hardik Pandya is currently leading the national team for the first time in ODIs against Australia in the first match. The veteran all-rounder has shared his thoughts over a question about his return to Test cricket as well.

“To be honest, no. I am ethically very strong in my life. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. So me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well with me,” Hardik stated in a pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI against Australia.

WTC Final 2023: “If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind, I will earn my position” – Hardik Pandya

He continued: “If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind, I will earn my position, and then come back. For that reason, to be very honest, I will not be available or play the World Test Championship Final, or any future Test matches until I feel that I have earned my spot.”

However, the ODI series between both teams will also give an opportunity for them to take a look at different team combinations and prepare for the upcoming mega event – World Cup which will be played in October-November. It is also noteworthy that, Team India have a dismal record in the ICC tournament’s knockout fixtures and so they would like to change their fortune this time as well.

While sharing his views on how India will plan the series, Hardik Pandya stated that the team will play according to the situation.

“We are not trying anything new. We will play according to the situation but we will try to be brave which I think in the last couple of series we have done well. The more challenging and closer the bilateral games get, the more we can learn and start playing under pressure as well as the knockouts. I don’t think we need to look at it [previous ICC events] right now – past is past. We are looking forward to the future and hoping for the best,” Hardik Pandya concluded.