‘He has to work hard on his body’ – Former India World Cup winning captain speaks up about Hardik Pandya’s future in Test cricket

Right after his injury in the Asia Cup, Hardik Pandya has been under the scanner and is being used very wisely by the Indian team management. In the early stages of his career, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was being compared to Kapil Dev by cricket analysts. Pandya’s back problems, however, have interfered with his ability to bowl. Since September 2018, the all-rounder hasn’t participated in a Test match. Hardik Pandya’s body cannot handle test cricket, according to former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri.

Now, the former captain of India and World Cup champion in 1983, Kapil Dev, tends to disagree with claims that all-rounder Hardik Pandya should only play white-ball cricket since his delicate body cannot handle test cricket. The former Indian captain also cited Australian fast bowling star Dennis Lille and cricket legend Kapil Dev as proof that the human body is capable of recovering from any ailment.

In one of the latest interviews with the Week magazine, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain said he respects the statement that Shastri gave but feels that if Pandya works hard on his fitness and his body then he can certainly prolong his career and serve India in multiple formats. The former India allrounder also drew comparisons to Dennis Lillee so had multiple breakdowns in his career. Former India also added that the human body can come back from any position to the top position.

“If you say, Hardik Pandya – who is such a great athlete, looks so good – has to work hard on his body, he has to work hard. His body can’t take it?” Kapil Dev said.

In our time, there was only cricket – Dev

The star India allrounder also drew a comparison to Rahkeem Cornwall who is clearly overweight but his body seems to have adapted to this Test match cricket. The former India player also said that in his time it was not an easy job to be an all-rounder and during his time there was just cricket.

“I can understand if that big West Indian off-spinners [Rahkeem Cornwall] body can’t take it. But, over a period of time, his body can also do it if he starts working towards it. It’s too much hard work today. You have T20Is, you have ODIs, you have Tests, you have other cricket also and you have commercials. I was avoiding saying the last one. In our time, there was only cricket. It’s not an easy job to be an all-rounder. It’s not an easy job to play all types of crickets. But some people can play.” the 64-year-old India player added.