Hardik Pandya makes comeback to competitive cricket; hopes to play the Test series Down Under

Pandya couldn't make it to the Indian Test team for the ongoing Test series in Australia.

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Hardik Pandya
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Hardik Pandya. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

He was stretched off the ground during India’s electric clash with Pakistan in the Asia Cup in the UAE in September where he flew to participate directly after a gruelling series in England. Ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been out of competitive cricket for almost three months and made a comeback for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy clash with Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday and took three wickets after opening the bowling.

The 25-year-old all-rounder decided to play in the Ranji Trophy instead of going to New Zealand to play for India ‘A’ and his decision had surprised many for not often are India’s national players are seen sweating it out in the domestic circuit. Pandya took three wickets for 74 runs in Mumbai after bowling 15 overs which might indicate the fact that the cricketer is on his way back.

“…I’m very excited. I’m done resting, being away from the game for so long. I wanted to come back smart and in the right way. I’m quite happy that I’m finally fit and ready to play cricket. I’m coming back after three months, I just want to express myself, play my best cricket and enjoy myself,” Pandya was quoted as saying by the Times of India on the eve of the Mumbai game. Because of his injury, the cricketer couldn’t see from close the international debut his brother Krunal made recently in international cricket.

Hardik explains why he chose Ranji over India ‘A’

He said he was focused on getting fit and returning to the game and put in all the effort to do good. “Right now, I’m not thinking about India, but focusing on Baroda winning this game,” he said. On opting to play in Ranji Trophy over India ‘A’ because he was hoping for a call-up for the national side which is currently playing a Test series in Australia. Virat Kohli’s men won the first Test 1-0 and are now engaged in a battle for dominance in the second in Perth.

“I picked this Ranji Trophy game over India ‘A’, because I want to play Tests. There is a chance that if I do well and the team requires me, I might be picked for the third and fourth Tests in Australia,” he said, adding that he wanted to test his fitness in a four-day game rather than a one-day as that would give him a fair assessment about his condition.

India have picked their squad for the four-Test series. Pandya, however, could hope for a call in the ODI squad for the three-match series in Australia in January.

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