IND vs WI: Hardik Pandya Can’t Manage Load Of Test Cricket? Kapil Dev Disagrees

Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev has disagreed with the fact that Hardik Pandya cannot take the load of Test Cricket. Kapil Dev feels that Hardik Pandya’s body can take the workload of Test cricket if he works hard.

Medium-pacer all-rounder Hardik Pandya last played in Tests in 2018. Due to a back injury, he left the longest format. Now, he only plays in ODIs and T20Is. Pandya is also the vice-captain of the team in white-ball formats.

If Hardik Pandya Works Hard, His Body Can Take Load Of Tests: Kapil Dev

During an interview with The Week magazine, the former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev was asked for his opinions on Ravi Shastri’s statement on Hardik Pandya. The former Indian coach once said that Hardik Pandya’s body can’t take the workload of bowling in Test cricket.

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Also Read: IND vs WI: Wasim Jaffer Criticizes Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy For His Handling Of Hardik Pandya

To this, Kapil Dev said that he doesn’t believe in that. The 64-year-old gave the example of former Australia legend Dennis Lillee and said that anybody can manage any workload if they work hard on their body.

“I respect his [Shastri’s] statement, but why? Nobody has had more breakdowns than Dennis Lillee. So I don’t believe that. Human body can come back from any corner, come back into top condition. If you say Hardik Pandya – who is such a great athlete, looks so good – has to work hard on his body, he has to work hard.

His body can’t take it? I can understand if that big West Indian off-spinner’s [Rahkeem Cornwall] body can’t take it. But, over a period of time, his body can also do it if he starts working towards it,” the former right-handed batsman said.

Also Read: IND vs WI: Out Or Not Out? Hardik Pandya’s Bizarre Dismissal Sparks Debate On Social Media

Kapil Dev, who led India to the ODI World Cup title in 1983, also pointed out that players have a lot of hard work nowadays. He also added that it’s not an easy job to be an all-rounder but some people can play.

“It’s too much hard work today. You have T20Is, you have ODIs, you have Tests, you have other cricket also and you have commercials [laughs]. I was avoiding saying the last one.

In our time, there was only cricket. It’s not an easy job to be an all-rounder. It’s not an easy job to play all types of cricket. But some people can play,” said Dev, who played for India from 1978 to 1994.

Also Read: IND vs WI: Ravindra Jadeja Breaks Kapil Dev’s 30-Year-Old Record Against West Indies In First ODI

Kapil Dev is one of the best pace all-rounders to play for India. The former right-arm pacer played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs for India. He hunted 434 wickets in Tests and 253 in ODIs. The right-handed batter also scored 5000-plus runs in Tests and 3500-plus runs in ODIs.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is part of the ongoing IND vs WI ODI series. In the 1st ODI, he got out for 5 runs and picked 1 wicket. However, India won the match by 5 wickets.