Ever since the BCCI Selection Committee announced the Test squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka series, a few questions have surfaced. There were a few bold announcements made during the virtual press conference held by the Chairman of the selection committee, Chetan Sharma. While four senior members- Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Wriddhiman Saha- were snubbed from the Test team a few new names were given a chance.
But one prominent name has remained absent from India’s Test squad and that’s of Hardik Pandya. The stylish all-rounder has not featured in a Test since December 2018. He has also been in and out of the white-ball games due to injury concerns. Pandya last featured in the T20 World Cup where he received a lot of flak for not contributing with the ball. He went into rehabilitation and was expected to return to Ranji Trophy, but he did not.
A journalist asked a question about the same to Chetan Sharma in the press conference, but the latter gave a blunt reply. He asked the journalist to consult Hardik for the answer. “You can ask Hardik why he is not playing Ranji Trophy? We are seeing those who are playing Ranji Trophy and those who are performing. We are happy to see players playing Ranji Trophy and performing,” said Sharma.
Will consider him immediately if he is ready to bowl: Chetan Sharma
While Chetan Sharma claimed that the selection committee wanted Hardik to play the domestic red-ball tournament, the lead selector added that the Baroda all-rounder will continue to remain an important member of the team whenever he returns. But he will need to be fully fit to bowl. “Look, definitely Hardik was a very important part of the Indian team. “(But) after the injuries, we will now say that if he is 100 percent fit, ready to go and also if he is bowling and match fitness and all, we will consider him immediately,” said Sharma.
As the talks about Pandya progressed, a journalist passed a remark that selectors will now pick him when he declares himself fit and available during the start of IPL where he is leading Gujarat Titans and why he is not making his fitness status clear. Sharma did not like the comment and lost his cool for a while as he replied, “Look, the most important thing is, like I said before, you can speak to him (Hardik), you would be having his (mobile) number.”
“Number two, you are not a member of the selection committee to tell that whether he will be selected or not. The five selection committee members are there with me. Who gets selected and who does not, that we will decide, not you. But what he has to do, who will play what, let things come, you support a kid, don’t go behind him,” an irked Sharma added.
