BCCI pressured to recall Hardik Pandya for Tests after Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy draw

Former New Zealand National Cricket Team batsman Craig McMillan believes that the India National Cricket Team are missing a Hardik Pandya-like all-rounder in Test cricket.

McMillan said that India need a player like Hardik Pandya, who can bowl medium-pace and bat lower down the order, in overseas Test matches.

Hardik Pandya made his Test debut in 2017

The Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya made his debut for the India National Cricket Team in Test cricket on July 26, 2017, against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team at Galle International Stadium.

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He played red-ball cricket for India for just over a year, with his last outing coming against the England National Cricket Team at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, in a Test match that was played from August 30 to September 2, 2018.

Overall, he played 11 Test matches for India and scored 532 runs, with the best of 108, and an average of 31.29. With the ball, he bagged 17 wickets with the best figures of 5/28 and an average of 31.05.

Over the years, there have been occasional speculations about his Test comeback, especially during overseas Test matches, but Hardik Pandya has stayed away from red-ball cricket.

He does not play Test cricket primarily due to persistent fitness issues, especially recurring back injuries, and has given priority to white-ball formats to prolong his international career.

His body is not fit enough to withstand the rigors of Test cricket, and the all-rounder has himself stated he does not want to take someone else’s Test spot “unless he goes through the grind and earns his spot."

In his absence, India used Shardul Thakur as the pace-bowling all-rounder before Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged on the scene and became the first-choice of the Gautam Gambhir-led team management.

India are missing a player like Hardik Pandya - Craig McMillan

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, during an interaction in Chennai with TOI, said that India have the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as proper all-rounders for subcontinent Tests, but need to have a Hardik Pandya-like all-rounder for overseas matches. He said:

"In Asian conditions, you need a spin-bowling allrounder like Jadeja, Washington or previously R Ashwin. In NZ, Australia and England, you need a fast-bowling allrounder. It is where India are missing a player like Hardik Pandya who can bowl medium pace and bat lower down the order. For England, Ben Stokes is two players in one."

He looks a good captain - Craig McMillan

Craig McMillan lauded Shubman Gill as "a good captain" following his debut Test series as skipper against England, which India managed to draw 2-2. He stated:

"He looks a good captain. The first series is very tough. In such a pressure-cooked series, he probably made a few mistakes. But you expect those in his first series. He will get better with experience. He is the future, so India will invest in him. He will get to know his team’s game, which I think is really important, and the style of play."

McMillan added that Shubman Gill needs to identify the style in which he wants his team to play Test cricket. He said:

"When India had played under Virat Kohli, everyone knew how they had played — they had been aggressive. It might be a bit different because of the personality of Gill. He has got to work that out with the coach Gautam Gambhir."

Also Read: 'Persuaded Virat Kohli to bid goodbye to Test cricket after England series': Shocking claim emerges