India cricketer Hanuma Vihari said that if Hardik Pandya wants to return to Test cricket, it is good for the national team. A player like him would be needed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 in Australia later this year. Vihari further mentioned that Pandya will have to play a couple of Ranji Trophy matches before playing for India National Cricket Team in the red-ball cricket.

According to a report in India Today, he is working hard to make a comeback in the most extended format for the first time since August 2018. He last played a Test against England and has been out of the team due to back injuries.

Shardul Thakur was used as a pace bowling all-rounder in Hardik’s absence, but he too is injury-prone and is currently recovering from a setback. He is likely to play in the Irani Cup.

“I don’t know whether Hardik wants to play Test cricket or not. However, if he is planning to return to Test cricket, it is good news for the Indian team. He will come good in overseas conditions like in Perth. You need an extra fast bowling option,” Hanuma Vihari told IndiaToday on Thursday.

“He will have to play Ranji Trophy games before making himself available for Test matches. The workload is completely different in the longest format as compared to ODIs and T20Is,” he added.

Hardik will represent Baroda in white-ball tournaments in the domestic season in India. He is likely to be a part of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

“Shardul Thakur hasn’t been able to achieve much as an all-rounder for the Indian team. His numbers are not impressive. If Hardik Pandya is keen on playing Test cricket, he will be our number one choice.”