NEW DELHI: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged for efforts to bring star all-rounder Hardik Pandya back into the Test team, stressing his importance for India's chances in winning their first World Test Championship (WTC) title and achieving success in Australia.
Gavaskar believes Pandya's inclusion could be pivotal, especially after his recent key role in India's T20 World Cup victory. Although Pandya had a promising start in his Test career, persistent injuries have limited him to just 11 Tests while prioritizing his white-ball career.
Pandya, who hasn't played Test cricket since 2018, boasts a batting average of 31.29 and a bowling average of 31.05 in Tests. He has scored 532 runs in 18 innings, including one century and four fifties, alongside taking 17 wickets with best bowling figures of 5 for 28.
In an interview with Revsportz, Gavaskar expressed optimism about India's potential to dominate Test cricket and accomplish significant achievements.
"Yes, absolutely, they can. I think in the next two months, there should be an attempt to convince Hardik Pandya to play Test cricket. If he bowls ten overs a day to go with his batting, this Indian team could become invincible, and they can surely go on and win the WTC and beat Australia in Australia," Gavaskar stated.
Team India has twice reached the WTC final since the tournament's inception, only to fall short both times against New Zealand and Australia. The upcoming five-match Test series in Australia later this year offers another opportunity for India to assert their dominance and chase their first WTC title.
Gavaskar's call to action underscores the strategic importance of Pandya's potential return to Test cricket, aiming to enhance India's prospects in their quest for Test supremacy and success Down Under.
1/10:T20 World Cup: Team India victory parade
ANI
2/10:PM Modi and Rohit Sharma
<p><br /><br />India's T20 World Cup winners returned home to a heroes' welcome, greeted by huge crowds of euphoric fans and praised by a grinning Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a private reception.<br /><br /><br /></p>PTI
3/10:Rohit Sharma
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Frenzied crowds shouted "India, India" after the team landed at Delhi airport from the Caribbean, having been delayed for days by Hurricane Beryl.</p>AP
4/10:Rohit Sharma
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The team waved to the crowds and danced to drums and live music at their hotel before heading off to meet Modi at his residence.</p>PTI
5/10:India champions
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Rohit and his team wore Indian jerseys emblazoned with "Champions", as broadcasters showed images of them posing with their trophy and the premier.</p>Agencies
6/10:Bus of champions
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Evening saw the team paraded in an open-topped bus through the financial capital Mumbai, the birthplace of India's cricket obsession, along a seafront route thronging with jubliant crowds.</p>Reuters
7/10:Wankhede Stadium
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">They took a victory lap in front of thousands more fans at Wankhede Stadium, the site of India's last World Cup win for the 50-over edition of the tournament in 2011. </p>AFP
8/10:Sea of fans
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Despite monsoon rain, crowds gathered outside New Delhi's airport long before dawn, waiting for a glimpse of their idols, who had beaten South Africa on Saturday in a thrilling final in Barbados.</p>AP
9/10:Rahul Dravid
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The final match marked a poignant milestone for Coach Rahul Dravid, 51, as it was his last game in charge. Dravid, who had experienced the disappointment of a lackluster 2007 World Cup campaign as a captain, redeemed himself as a coach, masterminding India's unbeaten run to the title. <br /></p>Reuters
