Pandya bowls with red ball, triggers speculation over his Test comeback

NEW DELHI: Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya sparked curiosity among fans on Thursday when he shared a video on Instagram story showcasing his bowling skills with the red ball during a practice session in England.
The 30-year-old's footage of bowling with the red cherry generated significant interest and speculation on social media platforms, particularly considering his prolonged absence from the Test cricket format.

Pandya, who has been grappling with injuries, last featured in a Test match in September 2018 and subsequently underwent surgery on his lower back in 2019.

Despite being approached to participate in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, Pandya declined the opportunity, expressing his reluctance to replace a regular red-ball player in the team. His most recent appearance in a first-class game dates back to December 2018.
Pandya continues to be India's premier pace-bowling all-rounder, with his closest competitors, Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy, trailing far behind the flamboyant player from Baroda.

Despite the significant gap in their abilities, Pandya has not yet communicated his intentions regarding his participation in red-ball cricket to the team management.
Recent social media posts featuring videos of Pandya suggest that he is working on increasing his workload in preparation for the upcoming T20 series against Bangladesh in October. However, since the World Cup final in June, the all-rounder has only participated in two competitive matches, both T20s against Sri Lanka.
"It's heartening to know that Hardik is bowling with red ball but has he really spoken to men who matter (chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma) about his intentions?," a senior BCCI source asked as quoted by PTI.
It is understood that without playing any domestic red-ball cricket, he can't be directly selected for Test matches, even though he could provide the necessary balance in Australia as the fourth pacer and No. 7 batter.
Having missed the Duleep Trophy due to workload management, it will be interesting to see if he participates in red-ball cricket for Baroda.