3 reasons why domestic red-ball return for Hardik Pandya could be good for his career
Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya sparked chatter among fans and pundits after he was seen practicing with a red ball during the off-season. There is further clarity on the same now, with reports confirming that he is in the fray for a potential red-ball comeback, beginning with domestic cricket with Baroda.
Although head coach Gautam Gambhir has maintained that India are not desperate for the pace bowling all-rounder option in Tests, Pandya's availability comes across as a lucrative prospect.
With India primed to play a plethora of away Tests in the near future, the fast-bowling all-rounder becomes a non-negotiable option in the playing XI. Despite Shardul Thakur being a proven candidate for the role over the years, India would welcome some depth and competition with Pandya's hopeful arrival.
Pandya's last Test appearance for India came during the tour of England in 2018. He also played for Baroda in the 2018 Ranji Trophy, but switched his focus entirely on white-ball cricket as a flurry of injuries post put his red-ball career on hold.
On that note, let us take a look at three reasons why a domestic red-ball return for Hardik Pandya could be good for his career.
#1 Restores his credibility as an all-format all-rounder
Giving Pandya a run in domestic cricket rather than directly bringing him into the senior team is the right call and the ideal path for his return. He needs to be eased into red-ball cricket, especially since it has been a long-time since his last appearance.
A lot has to be figured out before Pandya can be restored into the red-ball side, with the biggest one being how much can his body handle. With a history of injuries behind him, another injury going overboard in red-ball cricket could affect the balance of the white-ball sides.
Having no red-ball cricket behind him since 2018, Pandya, who was once an all-format all-rounder, was reduced to a white-ball specialist. A return to the longest format, will help him earn that tag, and be among the few all-format players for India. With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, India need more all-format players for a core and to maintain stability.
#2 Will do him a world of good in terms of confidence
Featuring in domestic cricket, and preferably performing well before returning to the national setup will give him heaps of confidence. Playing only a handful of matches since the 2024 T20 World Cup, and not being involved in the ongoing home season, will lead to some rustiness in his game.
Gaining some game-time with Baroda, within reason and not putting too much pressure on his body, will not only help build match fitness but also aid in getting the hang of red-ball cricket again. If there are any flaws or concerns, they can be addressed then and there, following which he can make his national return without any hiccups.
#3 Playing red-ball cricket will improve other facets of his game
Every Indian player in the pipeline regardless of their role have been encouraged to play as much as red-ball and domestic cricket as possible. There is no better avenue to hone your skills after a layoff than red-ball cricket. The grind and the grit lead to the development of the basic technique, which Pandya could profit from.
Soon to be 31 years old, Pandya certainly is well into the latter half of his career, and potentially at a cross roads. He could do with a reset to ensure longevity, while fitness is a part of it, maintaining form across formats is other. Playing red-ball cricket on a consistent basis, again within reason according to how his body feels, will improve his overall game, going onto reflect in his white-ball game as well gradually.