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Team India is on the cusp of winning the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Barring a major turnaround on Day 5 of the ongoing fourth Test at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rohit Sharma's brigade look set to lift the prestigious trophy. While all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has played a pivotal role in India being on the horizon of completing a famous series win, calls to include another ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Test side is gaining momentum.
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson batted for the inclusion of Hardik in India's Test set-up and detailed the strengths of the Gujarat Titans captain that makes the Indian Team even more potent.
"If his body can handle the rigours of Test cricket then absolutely. He has got incredible skills even with his batting alone. He has got a very very sound batting technique. Yes, he is a power-hitter of the ball but everyone has seen him move up the batting order in T20 cricket, batting at No.4 for Gujarat Lions (Titans). Even in ODIs, he is not just a power-hitter. So from just batting perspective, he has got the game to perform in Test cricket," Hindustan Times quotes Watson as saying.
"Bowling wise, if he is fit he charges in and he has got great skill. He can swing the brand new ball away and he would provide a huge impact for the Indian Test team. For me it eventually comes down to his body and whether it can handle the rigours of playing Test cricket as a fast-bowling all-rounder. I would love to see him push the limits as an all-rounder and cricketer when it comes to playing all formats of the game because he is one of the special talents in world cricket," said Watson, who is currently playing for the World Giants in Legends League Cricket (LLC).
After suffering from back injuries, Hardik has stayed away from Test cricket. The all-rounder, who last played Test cricket for India in 2018, is a key player for India in white-ball cricket and was recently named Rohit Sharma's deputy for the ODI series against Australia.
Recently, former Australia captain Ian Chappell was left surprised by Hardik not being in the scheme of things for Test cricket.
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