'Isse achha toh Vijay Shankar ko le jaate' - Fans react to Ricky Ponting's bold statement to take Hardik Pandya for Test Championship final

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian batting icon, believes that India should have included Hardik Pandya in their lineup for the Test Championship 2021-23 final encounter against Australia in London because of his all-round skills, which can be a deciding factor in the one-off match.

Pandya has chosen to skip the five-day version because of his ongoing fitness issues. He hasn't played in a Test match since 2018. However, Ponting believes Pandya could have participated in the winner-takes-all match at The Oval between June 7–11, particularly because he frequently bowled for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

Pandya could be that X-factor: Ponting

Ricky Ponting spoke for the ICC review about Pandya being the decisive factor for the Indian Team against Australia in June at the Oval. He said, “I thought about that the other day, for India in this game... how valuable someone like Hardik Pandya could be in a one-off Test match. I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game... he’s been bowling every game through this IPL and he’s bowling quick.”

Pandya could have been the deciding factor for the Indian squad in the Test Championship final starting on June 7, according to the former Australia captain who is also the current head coach of Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He said, “He (Pandya) could be that X-factor there just to pick in a one-off game, come in and see what he can do with bat and ball. He could be the difference between the two teams.”

Pandya, 29, has appeared in 11 Tests after his debut in 2017, totalling 532 runs with 104 fifty-plus scores. He has taken seventeen wickets at a 31.05. average. Pandya has so far amassed 1584 runs and 72 wickets in 74 one-day internationals. He has played in 87 T20I matches, scoring 1271 runs, and taking 69 wickets. Pandya guided the GT to their first IPL victory in 2022, but on Monday they were defeated by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the championship game.

Fans react to Ricky Ponting's bold statement to take Hardik Pandya for Test Championship final : -

Ricky Ponting said - "Hardik Pandya could have been Valuable addition for India in the WTC final. I know he is on record saying that Test cricket is a little bit hard on his body. But he could be that X-factor. He could be the difference between two teams". pic.twitter.com/WlTbTKCOjk

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) May 30, 2023

He could be the X-factor for Australia! He is not a Test player...

— KNIGHT ANEEK #Shreyasian (@AneekDey108) May 30, 2023

Absolutely! Would have loved Hardik to play just one off test like WTC Final especially with X Factor Pant is not able to play.. Jadeja 6, Hardik 7 and Bharat 8 would have provided Excellent batting depth which I feel India might miss!

— IPL CricOpinions (@CricOPinionsB) May 30, 2023

Ponting wants hardik to gets injured because he knows he cannot play test cricket because of his injury prone body. If injury occurs, he will not be able to play cricket and it will open captaincy spot. PS-he is scared of Hardik Pov- it will increase the brand value of DC. #ykwim

— Vishwas_Bajwa (@SinghGurvishwas) May 30, 2023

That time, during 2017-18, Hardik Pandya seen as a good all rounder for Indian test team. Even his performance was good. But due to continuous injury, he faded away from test cricket. His last test match was against England, 5 yrs ago

— Pratik Chaubey (@PratikChaubey) May 31, 2023

India need to find 2-3 Pace bowling all rounders from Ranji at any cost . Hardik has been on decline since that injury ,can't be a finisher ,maybe still 3-4 years left in him but not more

— Abhisek@2816 (@AbhisekBChoudh2) May 31, 2023

HP is a half cricketer with half fitness, if he can't play test cricket how can he be called a fit cricketer

— I V (@infvoy) May 31, 2023

I would have him in my squad and probably top 11especially in the uk on fast green pitches

— 💉✌️🦆The Honorable Sir Dr YOWIE 😷🐨 (@medowieyowie) May 30, 2023

It's too late to even have this discussion he can't even bowl properly now a days and bowling consistently big spells in test cricket is no easy job , the management has already moved on from him atleast in test cricket format

— 🌌 (@Akshhayyyyyyy) May 30, 2023

X-factor 2 session ke bad x-ray room me milta ...no hate for him but he himself admitted he isn't ready for test since his injury

— kraken (@kraken76452150) May 30, 2023

He'll not be able to bowl more than 8-9 overs 🥴

That is the main concern.

— RoSupremacy45🇮🇳 (@imsumit4545) May 30, 2023

Shardul is better than Hardik in Test cricket

— Vivekanand (@imvivekanand_) May 30, 2023

if he plays ranji then he should come, otherwise no need of him. thats not how it works. sky had to play in ranji to come in test team.

— EARO (@Earo12345Earo) May 30, 2023