'If time is right and body is fine, I'll give a try' - Hardik Pandya on future plans of Test comeback

The Indian team is currently gearing up for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy which is scheduled to be played from February 9, in Nagpur. The Men in Blue recently finished their bilateral series against New Zealand, defeating the Kiwis 3-0 in the ODI series and 2-1 in the T20I series, and India's stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya dropped a massive update regarding his career and future in Test cricket. 

After facing a serious injury during the T20 World Cup 2021, Pandya successfully made a comeback into the national team. He proved himself as an all-rounder and as a captain as he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their first-ever IPL title in their maiden IPL outing. Putting up impressive performances since his comeback, Pandya has been handed several leadership opportunities, the recent one being his role as India's ODI vice captain.

"Right now, I'm going to focus on white-ball cricket, which is important, and if time is right and body is fine, I'll give (the long format) a try," the 29-year-old said while addressing reporters after the conclusion of the third T20I against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

I will come when I feel the right time: Pandya

The all-rounder stated that he was currently concentrating on giving his all to the task and responsibility that he has been bestowed with by the Indian management. He stated that he wanted to establish himself in this genre first, given that the World Cup is due to be played in India and he didn't want to mess things up before the global event.

"I will come (back) when I feel (it's) the right time to play Test-match cricket." he said.

It is to be noted that this is not the first time Pandya has dodged the question of him making a return to Test cricket. Previously, when he was appointed the T20I captain against Sri Lanka in January 2023, he had dodged the same question posed to him by a reporter in a press conference in a very cryptic manner.

"When I will be seen in whites? Let me be fully on blues first, then I will see about the whites," he had said.

Pandya last played a Test for India in 2018. He is highly rated as an all-rounder and may, in all probability, make a Test comeback. India will play four Tests against Australia which will be a part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and their last series of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. India still have a chance of making the World Test Championship final and hence the upcoming Tests would be extremely important for the hosts.

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