ICC WTC Final India squad: No place for Hardik Pandya after forgetful IPL 2021 performance–The All-India Senior Selection Committee on Friday picked the Indian squad for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and the five-match Test series against England. All-rounder Hardik Pandya was ignored by the selection committee. He failed to make it to the India squad. A persistent shoulder niggle has turned the all-rounder into a batsman. It seems that selectors have passed a message – without being fit to ball he will not be included in Indian team just as a batsman. It’s been 3 years since he last played a test.
ICC WTC Final India squad: No place for Hardik Pandya after forgetful IPL 2021 performance
Hardik Pandya- Biggest flop in IPL 2021
It is notable that Hardik Pandya was one of the biggest flop in IPL 2021. He could manage only 52 runs in as many as 7 innings. Besides this, he didn’t bowl throughout the 1st phase of the tournament due to a niggle.
NOTE: It was the second consecutive IPL season where Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl for Mumbai Indians.
The 28-year-old has a lengthy layoff due to injury last year. He had undergone a back surgery in London in November 2020. Since his return, he is yet to complete or fulfill the role of a fifth bowler in the India squad.
ICC WTC Final India squad: No place for Hardik Pandya after forgetful IPL 2021 performance
Why Hardik Pandya is not bowling?
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardena had reently opened up on why Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl in IPL 2021.
“We were looking forward to him bowling this season as he didn’t bowl in last year’s IPL after coming from an injury and he wasn’t ready. In his last ODI match against England, I believe Hardik picked up a niggle so we don’t want to risk an injury,” Jayawardene explained.
Hardik Pandya Test Career
Hardik Pandya had played his last Test against England in 2018. In his Test career, he has played 11 matches and scored 532 runs (1 century, 4 fifties) and took 17 wickets.
Is his Test career over?
Hardik Pandya needs to bowl and take plenty of wickets under his belt if he is to be considered for India’s Test setup in near Future.
He needs to come up with some match-winning performance with the bowl and deliver the crucial overs in white-ball cricket if he eyes a comeback to the India’s Test squad.
His numbers are not too bad in the longest format but the ongoing form is not up to mark.
ICC WTC Final India squad: Spin-allrounders are the way forward for India ?
India continued to pick Washington Sundar, who had a good allround show in the recent Test series. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja returned to the playing XI after a spectacular IPL 2021 show. R Ashwin and Axar Patel, who were heroes of Indian victory in Test series against England, continue to be part of the Test setup.
Among pacers, Mohammad Shami also made his return after missing the Test series against England due to an injury.
India’s squad for ICC WTC Final and England Test series:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).
Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla
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