Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra (Image Credit: Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra is unsure about the chances of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya making a comeback to the Indian Test set-up even if the duo performs well in Sri Lanka.

Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar haven’t played Test cricket since 2018. The duo was overlooked for the Test summer in England due to fitness-related issues.

Aakash Chopra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (Image Credit: Twitter)

Pandya is no way near being a Test bowler post his comeback after back surgery and according to the former opener, unless the Baroda all-rounder starts bowling long spells, his chances of making a comeback to the Test team are impossible.

“I don’t know, yaar. Hardik Pandya has made it very clear that he is not going to bowl in Test cricket at this point in time. Hardik’s name will not come in Tests unless he bowls, that thing is almost written in stone although he has a Test century as well. But then if he is not bowling, you won’t play him, you will play a proper batsman, maybe a Hanuma Vihari or someone else.” said Chopra on his Youtube channel after a fan asked him about the chances of Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback in the Test team.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)

As far as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is concerned, the right-arm seamer has had his fair share of injury issues since his last Test against South Africa in 2018.

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However, Chopra reckoned that the non-selection of Kumar for the WTC final and England Tests isn’t because of his fitness.

The former opener was alluding to a report published a month ago in TOI which alleged that Bhuvneshwar Kumar doesn’t want to play Test cricket any more, a claim that was refuted by the Uttar Pradesh seamer on Twitter.

“You did not leave Bhuvneshwar Kumar out because there was an issue with his fitness. There were reports that he doesn’t want to play Tests but he denied that and said that he wants to play,” he said.

 

‘I will definitely have Bhuvneshwar Kumar in my thoughts for South African Test tour’- Aakash Chopra

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Aakash Chopra
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credits: Twitter)

Chopra, however, stated that he would still have Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his plans for the upcoming South African tour.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a brilliant outing during his last visit to South Africa as he claimed a total of 10 wickets in 2 Tests besides scoring crucial runs with the bat.

“If we talk about Bhuvneshwar and see where the next tours are, I will once again have him in my thoughts for South Africa. Before that, the matches that are there in India, you won’t play him in those. You could have probably taken him to England but you didn’t take him there.”

He, however, added that Bhuvneshwar’s selection in the Test team will not be on the basis of his performances in the upcoming white-ball fixtures against Sri Lanka.

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“Next is South Africa, I will definitely have him in my thoughts, whether he does well here or not. He will do well, but just in case he doesn’t, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s caliber, pedigree and talent are not dependent on a few games. If you have to get him, it is a strategical and tactical decision, which you can definitely make.” he said.

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