However, Ricky Ponting believes that the decision to not select a 29-year-old India star for the one-off match was probably a mistake.
With IPL 2023 over, the center shift to Test cricket where world cricket is good to go to invite another boss for the World Test Title (WTC) title among India and Australia.
India made only one minor change to their stand-by list, substituting Yashasvi Jaiswal for Ruturaj Gaikwad, while the original squad remained unchanged.
The ICC has received the final rosters from both teams for the summit game at The Oval, which starts on June 7.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, though. Thinks it was certainly a mistake to pass on a 29-year-old great from India for the one-off game.
Ponting discusses the absence of Hardik Pandya from the squad in an interview with The ICC Review. Since June of last year.
The all-rounder has made a stunning return to white-ball cricket. Ponting believes that he could have been a useful addition to the red-ball team as well.
Pandya, be that as it may. Hasn’t been important for Test cricket starting around 2018 when he was sidelined from the organization with back issues.
His white-ball game, in which he was only used as a batter, was also affected by the injury concern.
However, the seasoned Australian believes that Hardik could have demonstrated his ability to win a match in a single Test match with a lot at stake for India.
“I know he’s said before that playing in a Test match probably isn’t the ideal thing for his body. It is an odd game, but he has been bowling in every IPL game and does it rapidly.
He might be the X-factor there. Just to come in and demonstrate what he can do with bat and ball in a one-off game. He could be the line that separates the two factions.
Earlier this year, Hardik was directly asked if he planned to return to Test cricket with the WTC final coming up.
Although he didn’t say no, he said he would rather earn his spot back than take someone else’s place.
“No. I am a very morally upright individual. I haven’t done 10% to arrive there. I’m not even in the 1%. So me coming there and having somebody’s spot will morally not work out positively.
To play Test cricket, I’ll go through the drudgery and procure my spot. Therefore, I will not participate in the WTC final or any subsequent test series until I believe I have earned my spot, Hardik stated.