Hardik Pandya Should Return To Test Cricket Because That's What He Will Be Remembered For: Sourav Ganguly

While a lot of cricket experts and pundits have suggested that it is best for Hardik to continue playing just limited-overs cricket, Ganguly feels otherwise.

Ganguly's statement comes even as Hardik's last Test appearance came in 2018.

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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly reckons that Hardik Pandya should make a comeback in Test match cricket in the future. While he has cemented his place in the team and has even led the side in absence of Rohit Sharma in white-ball formats, he is yet to make a comeback in the game's purest format ever since his return after recovering from a back injury.

While a lot of cricket experts and pundits have suggested that it is best Hardik continues to play just limited-overs cricket for now as that will help him manage his workload and stay injury free, Ganguly feels otherwise and said that if he returns to Test cricket the all-rounder can leave an impact.

His statement comes even as Hardik last donned the Indian whites during the tour of England in 2018. While injuries have prevented him from bowling long spells, he has worked on his fitness to be to bowl regularly in ODI and T20Is apart from his batting and it would be interesting to see if he can bend his back to bowl in Test match cricket in the future.

"There will be specialists in T20s. There's Hardik Pandya although I still feel he is an asset in Test cricket also and he should come back to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for. He is a specialist in ODIs and T20Is. But he is a very special cricketer," Ganguly told in an interview to Times of India.

Ganguly was also asked about whether the selectors are mixing formats when picking players to which he said as far as he knows, that isn't a practice being followed.

"Good players adjust in all formats. India has so much talent that there will be some players common in all formats. That's the way it should be. Because I feel rhythm in sport is very important. I don't think the selectors do it that way with whatever my experience was in the BCCI,"  the ex-BCCI President said.

Hardik will lead Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.