Former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener believes Hardik Pandya gave up on Test cricket too easily. Pandya, who suffered a back injury in 2018, has not played in Test matches since then.
Klusener spoke about this during a press conference in Kolkata where he discussed his new coaching role with the Tripura Cricket Association.
Klusener praised Pandya as a fantastic cricketer and stated that if he can maintain his fitness and bowl at high speeds, he will always be considered one of the best all-rounders in the world. When asked if Pandya gave up on Test cricket too easily, Klusener responded positively, saying that Test cricket is the ultimate test for cricketers.
Earlier in 2023, Pandya was asked about his possible return to Test cricket ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. He expressed his reluctance to take a spot that he didn’t believe he deserved. Pandya stated that he hadn’t done enough to earn a place in the Test team and that he would only return when he felt he had earned it.
Pandya also expressed his trust in the team’s strength and conditioning coaches, stating that decisions about workload and player selection were in their hands. Klusener also commented on the WTC Final, acknowledging the Indian pace bowlers for their contributions in guiding India to consecutive finals.
According to Klusener, India’s transformation from a spin-dominant team to a well-rounded attack has put them in a strong position worldwide. He noted that teams in the past used to prepare pitches to exploit India’s weaknesses, but now India has the ability to compete in any conditions.
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