Twitterati express shock over Hardik Pandya inclusion for England series

Hardik Pandya has been selected as a part of the side that will entertain England in the first two Test matches of the five-match series. The news of the 23-year old’s selection comes as a surprise simply due to the fact that the young all-rounder is predominantly viewed as a limited overs specialist. Pandya was a part of the T20 side that crashed out of the World T20 earlier this year.

However, in spite of all this, the newly-elected selection panel comprising of former India wicketkeeper-batsman MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda have put forth this particular squad on paper. More recently, Hardik Pandya was a part of the side that defeated New Zealand in the five-match ODI series, something that was clinched by the hosts 3-2.

Pandya’s debut coincided with India’s tour of Australia in the fall of 2015 wherein the young all-rounder made his way into the side along with warhorse Ashish Nehra. His T20I career got off to a dismal start when he bowled a plethora of wides before claiming his first international scalp.

In recent times, the youngster has been on the receiving end of a few trolls from haters but has managed to prove them wrong time and again. This has seen him earn a substantial amount of respect in recent times, especially after his bowling performance in the first ODI at Dharamsala against New Zealand.

Also read – Hardik Pandya gets maiden call in the Indian squad for the Tests against England

Hardik had also impressed in the domestic circuit with some impressive performances with both bat and ball in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. It was in these places that Hardik earned his place in the Indian squad as a T20I specialist. However, now that he has been picked as a part of the Test squad, there are certainly a few stakeholders who are questioning the inclusion of the all-rounder.

Yesterday my friend told me that Hardik Pandya will make it to the Test squad and I laughed him off saying u better don't speak! #WTF

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 2, 2016

If Hardik Pandya can get a Test call-up, then Irfan Pathan has every reason in the world to feel hard done by for years. #INDvsENG

— Jaspreet Sahni (@Jaspreet_TOI) November 2, 2016

Hardik Pandya's first-class record: 16 games, 727 runs at 27.96 with a best of 90; 22 wickets at 33.72, one five-wicket haul. #INDvENG

— Jamie Alter (@jamie_alterTOI) November 2, 2016

Hardik Pandya could be useful in Test matches!
Let's see how it goes!

— Ken Adams (@BeingVishal5) November 2, 2016

Pandya gets selected for #IndvEng Test. I want our selectors to go through a Dope Test.

— ️Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 2, 2016

Reaction be like "mai kya karoon..isme meri koi galti nahin..inhone select kar liya!" pic.twitter.com/fUoQrYAYjy

— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) November 2, 2016

Hardik Pandya getting selected for the test team is worse than Chetteshwar Pujara getting selected for the t20 team.

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) November 2, 2016

Lagta hai Hardik Pandya ke pass @BCCI walo ka koi Secret MMS hai…tabhi @YUVSTRONG12 ki jagah wo team me aa gaya #INDvENG #YuvrajSingh

— Aditya Vashistha (@Kheyali_Nawab) November 2, 2016

This has to be one of the fastest transitions from T20 to Test cricket. #HardikPandya #INDvENG

— Kshitij Ingle (@kshitij_ingle) November 2, 2016

Hardik Pandya picked up to bat at 6 in place of Rohit Sharma? Ridiculous

— Abhishek ?? (@ImAbhishek_) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/SuperGops/status/793724129912446976

Hardik Pandya is highly overrated n is being rushed very early into d Indian side . He hasn't evn plyd a full domestic season ! #corrupt

— Anmol (@anmolb44) November 2, 2016

I would be happy to be proven wrong but don't think Hardik Pandya is a Test material. Waste of a place. https://t.co/8lP5MILB01

— Abhay Gupta (@Abhay00) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/Cricketracker/status/793727034656645120

hardik pandya is a surprise selection i would have preferred a specialist batsman in place of @ImRo45 apart from that no problems @BCCI

— toshniwalsumant16 (@toshniwalsuman2) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/imRo450/status/793726107866525696

@BCCI @Paytm Good to see the youngsters in the squad. One all rounder was required and a good selection made by including Hardik Pandya.

— shashwat deewakar (@shashwatdeewak1) November 2, 2016

Good selection apart from Hardik Pandya. He doesn't have impressive FC record. Still it's better to select him than Stuart Binny ? #INDvENG

— Sandesh SK (@Sandesh_Says) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/rahul_dravid19/status/793727938822832128

Hardik Pandya? Really? Now don't start with "he lends balance to the side" thingy….#IndvsEng

— Anupam Singh Sisodia (@iAnupamSingh) November 2, 2016

Even Parth Pandya would have been a better option than Hardik Pandya

— Juan Mata fan (@rahul_jk) November 2, 2016

Selectors have given a great vote of confidence to @hardikpandya7
The trip to Australia has indeed changed his fortune

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/SuperGops/status/793727534055718912

@hardikpandya7 in Test squad:
Jan 2016 – T20I debut
Oct 2016 – ODI debut
November 2016 (NOW) – Selected for Test Squad #INDvENG

— Sarath Chandran (@ImSarathC) November 2, 2016