Indian cricket has always celebrated comebacks, especially when they involve players who thrive under pressure. One such possibility has now been brought back into the conversation, as former India cricketer Robin Uthappa feels Hardik Pandya still has unfinished business in Test cricket.
Hardik Pandya last played a Test match and First-Class cricket in 2018. That same year, he stepped away from the red-ball format due to a recurring back injury. At the time, it was felt that the physical demands of long spells in Test cricket were too heavy for his body. Since then, Hardik Pandya has focused entirely on white-ball cricket, a decision that has worked well. Despite occasional injury setbacks, he has become one of India’s most influential all-rounders in limited-overs formats.
Robin Uthappa believes the time may be right for Hardik Pandya to reconsider his decision. He pointed out that India’s approach to pace-bowling all-rounders has evolved in recent years. Players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur and even Harshit Rana have been used as seam-bowling all-round options, often without being expected to bowl long, exhausting spells.
Sharing his views on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa explained that if Hardik Pandya were to return to the number seven position in Tests, it could significantly strengthen the team. He suggested that the current workload for all-rounders is manageable and that even the BCCI would not stand in Hardik Pandya’s way if he showed he was fit enough. In his view, modern Test cricket no longer demands all-rounders to bowl 20 overs every innings and if Pandya can contribute around 12 to 15 overs while batting effectively, it would be more than enough.
Robin Uthappa also felt that the decision ultimately rests with Hardik Pandya himself. If he expresses the desire to play Test cricket and contribute to India’s World Test Championship campaign, Uthappa believes the selectors would be open to the idea, provided fitness benchmarks are met.
Beyond team balance, Uthappa spoke about the larger motivation that could drive Hardik Pandya back to the longest format. Pandya has already won multiple ICC trophies, including the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup. According to Uthappa, winning the ICC World Test Championship would complete the ultimate set of achievements for any cricketer.
For Hardik Pandya, a return to Test cricket would not just be a comeback but a chance to complete his journey in international cricket.
