Hardik Pandya should play Test cricket, that's what he will be remembered for: Sourav Ganguly

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Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has suggested that Hardik Pandya should resume playing Test cricket as that's the format which will help him make a name for himself. Notably, the 29-year-old last played a Test match in September, 2018.

The all-rounder made a stunning start to his Test career in 2017 before incurring a lower back injury which forced him away from the longest format of the game. Ganguly opined that Hardik despite being a white-ball specialist but has still got a lot to offer in Test format.

"There will be specialists in T20s. There's Hardik Pandya although I still feel he is an asset in Test cricket also and he should come back to Test cricket because that's what he will be remembered for. He is a specialist in ODIs and T20Is. But he is a very special cricketer," Ganguly said in an interview with Times of India.

Hardik has played a total of 11 Test matches till date and scored 538 runs at an average of 31.29 and a strike rate of 73.88. He has also picked 17 wickets with his medium-pace bowling.

India face Australia in the final of World Test Championship (WTC) against Ausralia at the Oval in London from June 7. A pace-bowling all-rounder will be helpful for India in English conditions but his particpation isn't clear.

“No. I’m ethically a very strong person. I haven’t done even 10 per cent to reach there. I’m not even a part of one per cent. So, me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well. “If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. So, for that reason, I will not be available for the WTC final or any future Test series until I feel that I’ve earned my spot,” Hardik had earlier told over his participation in WTC 2021-23 final.

IPL money won't lead to shortage of all-format players

On being asked if money from IPL and other T20 leagues would take away the motivation of players to play all the three formats of the game. The ex-India opener reckoned that the perception was wrong and the current crop of players aspire to play all formats.

"I think money has nothing to do with how players play. It's great that money has come into the sport and that's how it should be. But I believe the majority of the players want to play all formats as long as they are good. It is terrific to see how hungry these boys are," Ganguly, Delhi Capitals' director of cricket, said.