Skip to main content

Hardik Pandya Cites 'Ethics' On Being Asked About Test Return In WTC Final

The Indian cricket team has qualified for the World Test Championship final with a 2-1 victory over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the summit clash, India will play Australia again, with the game scheduled to be held at the Oval in London in June. Hardik Pandya, who hasn't played a Test match for India since August 2018, was asked about making it to the final in a press conference on Thursday. The all-rounder ruled himself out, suggesting it would not be 'ethical' for him to be selected for the match as he hasn't 'earned' his spot.

Hardik spoke to the media on the eve of the first ODI against Australia. The all-rounder, who will be leading India in the match, said that he wants to go through the grind and then make a return in the Test team.

"No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven't done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of 1%. So, me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well. If I want to play Test cricket.

"I will go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be for the WTC final or future Test series until I don't feel that I have earned my spot", he said.

Hardik has a decent captaincy experience under his belt, having led the Indian team in a total of 11 T20Is, winning 7 of them. But, captaining the team in ODIs will pose different challenges to the all-rounder. Senior players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, etc. remain in the squad, and their support would be of huge importance to Hardik as he looks to impress as an ODI skipper, a job he is likely to take full-time in a year's time.

In the second and third ODI, however, Rohit will return to lead the Indian team.



source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/hardik-pandya-cites-ethics-on-being-asked-about-test-return-in-wtc-final-3868732

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

156.7 Kmph Sensation Awaits India Debut, Bangladesh Start Life After Shakib

Pace sensation Mayank Yadav is expected to unleash his raw speed while the absence of India's T20 regulars will provide another opportunity to the fringe players in the three-match series against Bangladesh, beginning here Sunday. Having consistently generated speed in excess of 150kmph in his maiden IPL earlier this year, Mayank had drawn the attention of the cricketing world before a side strain ruled him out of the tournament. Usually, one has to prove fitness in domestic cricket to be considered for national selection but the 22-year-old has been fast-tracked into the side considering his special talent. The series against Bangladesh will be a test of his fitness and temperament. It is yet to be figured if he can display the same accuracy and control that he exhibited in the IPL. Besides Mayank, fellow Delhi pacer Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could also make their India debut over the course of the series. Nitish was picked for the Zimbabwe tour post the T...

PCB Not Happy With Pak Star Over Social Media Post On Babar Snub: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not pleased that Fakhar Zaman questioned the selection panel's decision to sideline Babar Azam from the Test side. The panel dropped former captain Babar Azam when they announced the squad for the remaining two Tests against England in Multan and Rawalpindi. Zaman took to X to question the decision, inviting the ire of the PCB. "The top board officials are not pleased with the tweet sent out by Fakhar and relevant persons are having a word with him about it," a well-informed PCB source said. "It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on sa...

Gardner Shines Again As GG Register Six-Wicket Win Over UPW In WPL 2025

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball, leading Gujarat Giants to a comprehensive six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their Women's Premier League match in Vadodara on Sunday. Gardner (2/39) claimed two wickets and then scored a stylish 32-ball 52, her second consecutive fifty, as Gujarat registered their first win of the third edition of the tournament, following a loss in the opening game to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Opting to bowl, Gujarat produced a clinical effort with young spinner Priya Mishra returning impressive figures of 4-0-25-3. Skipper Gardner, Deandra Dottin (2/34), and Kashvee Gautam (1/15) also played key roles in restricting UPW to 143 for nine. Chasing 144 to win, the Giants were reduced to 22 for 2 with opener Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalata back in the pavilion after UPW introduced spin at both ends. However, Gardner produced an inspired knock, adding 55 runs off 42 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (22) to resurrect the innings. Gardner struck t...