Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener has weighed in on the absence of star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya from the Test cricket arena. As Team India prepares for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on June 7, Klusener has remarked that Pandya may be too quick to dismiss the challenges of Test cricket. Klusener praised Pandya’s skills and potential as one of the best all-rounders in the world if he can maintain his fitness and bowling speed.
Since making his comeback to international cricket last year after recovering from an injury, Hardik Pandya has chosen not to make himself available for Test selection. Despite his leadership role in the shortest format, Pandya has expressed that he doesn’t feel he has “earned” a spot in the Test team. He intends to prove himself through hard work before considering his return to the longer format.
Lance Klusener, renowned for his all-round skills, recognizes Pandya’s exceptional talent. Klusener stated that Pandya has the potential to be one of the best all-rounders in the world if he remains fit and consistently bowls at speeds above 135 kmph. However, Klusener believes that Pandya should embrace the challenges of Test cricket rather than dismissing the format too easily. Test cricket, as Klusener emphasized, is the ultimate test for cricketers to prove themselves.
Hardik Pandya has maintained that he has not yet done enough to deserve a spot in the Test team. He is determined to earn his place through hard work and dedication. Pandya also expressed his trust in the team’s strength and conditioning coaches to make informed decisions regarding his workload and participation in different formats.