Kapil Dev, the former India captain, vehemently rejects the idea that Hardik Pandya‘s physique is too delicate to handle the challenges of Test cricket, insisting that he should focus solely on limited-overs formats, who was once touted as the potential heir of Kapil Dev, the great Indian captain and all-rounder.
Drawing inspiration from the legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, Kapil Dev argues that the human body possesses remarkable resilience and can bounce back from any adversity.
Pandya’s bowling career has been marred by persistent back problems, preventing him from featuring in Test matches since September 2018.
On a previous occasion, Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, raised concerns about Pandya’s capacity to withstand the challenges of Test cricket due to his physical limitations.
“I must acknowledge Shastri’s statement, but I find myself questioning it. Consider Dennis Lillee, who faced numerous breakdowns, yet the human body demonstrated its resilience by making triumphant comebacks time and again,” said the legendary World Cup winning captain.
“Hardik Pandya is an exceptional sportsperson with an impressive physique. While he may need to put in additional effort to improve, I firmly believe that his body is more than capable of handling the challenges ahead.” he continued.
“I can understand for the big West Indian off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, I can comprehend that his current physical condition might pose challenges. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that with dedication and consistent efforts, even his body has the potential to adapt and overcome those obstacles over time,” said the former India all-rounder and captain who won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983.
Pandya’s cricket career boasts an impressive record across formats, with 11 Test appearances where he secured 17 wickets, 75 One Day Internationals (ODIs) with 73 wickets, and 87 T20 Internationals (T20Is) with 69 wickets to his name.
Meanwhile, Team India most recently beat the West Indies cricket team in the 2 match Test series by 1-0 after the 2nd Test ended in a draw due to persistent rain on the deciding day. The Rohit Sharma led side also dominated the West Indies team in the 1st ODI, getting them out for 115 runs.
