5 reasons why Hardik Pandya deserves a run in Test cricket

Surprising everyone, the dashing Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the Test squad for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. Pandya’s inclusion is a reward for his consistently good performances in limited overs cricket for the last few months.

His abilities as a batting all-rounder necessitated his inclusion at the Test level. Here are five reasons why Pandya deserves a run in Test cricket.

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#1 Good fast bowling all-rounder

Ever since the emergence of Ravichandran Ashwin as an all-rounder, the Indian teams have got some much-wanted stability in the lower batting order. However, the pressure on Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha has been immense on many occasions and they have managed to stitch partnerships and dig India out of trouble.

Adding one more genuine all-rounder to the side will undoubtedly strengthen the batting order and give Kohli the luxury of going in with an extra fast bowling all-rounder.

Pandya’s penchant for medium fast bowling is an added bonus as India have been on the lookout for a fast bowling all-rounder ever since Irfan Pathan fell out of favour. If Pandya can bowl his overs and contribute lower down the order, he will be a brilliant addition to the side.

Kohli is always interested in his pace bowling options and Pandya can be slotted into the quota of an extra fast bowling all-rounder especially in overseas conditions.

#2 Kohli’s love for pacers

Granted that he has to work on his variations a bit but he will be a great option once he matures more as a bowler

Ever since Virat Kohli took over as the captain of the Test team, there has been a fresh injection of enthusiasm in the spirits of the fast bowlers. The likes of Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav have turned over a new leaf ever in the recent past.

This is primarily because of the trust that Kohli puts in his pacers – he always throws them the ball and asks them to attack no matter how placid or unfriendly the conditions are for them. Pacers under Kohli are not a containing but an attacking option.

The emergence of Hardik Pandya is sure to add some more fuel to this pace battery because he has raw pace to scare the batsmen. Granted that he has to work on his variations a bit but he will be a great option once he matures more as a bowler.

#3 Aggressive batsman down the order

Pandya’s attacking cricket will be perfect for the Indian team

The thinking of the bygone days that Test is only a game of patience where batsmen play for a draw is long gone. The likes of Virender Sehwag showed us the positives of adopting an attacking approach up front which can take the game away from the opposition very fast.

But more precisely, it was Adam Gilchrist who showed the world the value of an attacking batsman lower down the order in Tests. Hardik Pandya will be perfect to play that role for India.

When it comes to batting with the tail and getting some quick runs, Pandya’s attacking cricket will be perfect for the Indian team. He can also gel well with Saha and Ashwin because of their contrasting conservative approaches.

#4 Giving youth a chance

Pandya’s flamboyance deserves a chance and his inclusion is a movement in the right direction

The advantage of giving an injection of youth to the team by including fresh blood cannot be emphasised enough. The trouble with the Indian team is that though a few youngsters have been included in the limited overs format, they have struggled to break into the longer version of the game.

This typically stems from a conservative approach which states that the elder statesmen will be always required when it comes to Test cricket. Though the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan are still young, they belong to a settled outfit which means too many youngsters haven’t made the successful transition to the Test team.

Hardik Pandya can well be an exception in this regard. Not many would have thought that the likes of MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag or even Quinton de Kock will be successful at the Test level. Pandya’s flamboyance deserves a chance and his inclusion is a movement in the right direction.

#5 Calm head on his shoulders

It is Pandya’s calm head and his tremendous confidence despite his young age that will surely make him successful at the Test level

Hardik Pandya is already being touted as the next best finisher in limited overs cricket who is ready to take on the mantle from MS Dhoni. But a good finisher is not only required in limited overs cricket, but also he is of paramount importance in Tests.

When it comes to getting quick runs or batting with the tail, Pandya’s power and finesse will be invaluable to the team. Moreover, he has shown a penchant for calmness in moments of pressure which will be an invaluable asset.

It is Pandya’s calm head and his tremendous confidence despite his young age that will surely make him successful at the Test level. When he does get the opportunity, he needs to grab it with both hands.