The recent videos of Hardik Pandya bowling with the red ball increased murmurs of his potential return to first-class cricket. In fact, according to reports, he was to be named in Baroda’s squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy in a bid to make himself available for the Test series against Australia, with the new season set to get underway on October 11. 

However, former India cricketer Parthiv Patel reckons that Pandya’s body is so fragile that it will not support 4-5 day cricket. Pandya has had issues with his back in the past and also went under the knife a few years ago. However, he is a regular member of India’s white-ball squad, recently playing a key role in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

“I don’t think his body allows four-day and five-day matches,” Parthiv said on Jio Cinema.

“He has to play at least one first-class game [before being considered for selection in Tests], which is very unlikely,” Parthiv said. 

Pandya last played Test cricket for India in 2018. He has played 11 matches in the format, scoring 532 runs at 31.29 and has chipped in with 17 wickets with the ball as well. His last first-class game for Baroda came later that year against Mumbai.

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