'If he can stay fit and... ' - Former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener makes huge statement on Hardik Pandya's Test career

Former star South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener has come up with a big statement while talking about the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the latter’s appearance in Test cricket. Klusener felt that it is only Pandya who is responsible for not making a good comeback in Test cricket due to the less effort and intent.

Notably, Pandya is not in action with the Indian Team in the longest format of the game for the last four to five years in a row. He played a red-ball game at the highest level for India last time in the year 2018. It was the Test match between England and India at Southampton.

The star all-rounder has gone through a lot of injuries in his career during the time frame of 2018-2021. For a long period of time, Pandya is playing only in white-ball cricket for Team India including some bilateral clashes and international tournaments like the 20-20 World Cup.

Coming back to Lance Klusener’s recent statement for Hardik Pandya, he was recently in an interaction with the journalists at the Calcutta Sports Journalist’s Club (Kolkata). The journalists asked him if Pandya gave up quite easily in red-ball cricket.

“Yes, possibly. Test cricket (is) always the pinnacle of testing where you are as a cricketer, and testing yourselves. Test cricket hasn't really changed much from way back but I also understand that times have moved on as well,” said Klusener.

Here's what Lance Klusener said further for Hardik Pandya

"He (Pandya) is a fantastic cricketer, and if he can stay fit and continues to bowl 135+ kmph, he will always be challenging... as one of the best all-rounders in the world,” he added later.

Apart from that, the former Proteas great also talked about the requirements for pace bowling all-rounders and their quality with the pace.

"Fast bowling all-rounders need to be bowling 135+. I don't think there would be some dibbly-dobblers that we used to see in England, I don't think all that (is) effective anymore,” said the veteran of 49 Tests for South Africa.