Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, on Thursday, posted a video of himself bowling with the red-ball during a training session in England - a move that triggered speculations over his return to Test cricket.
Pandya bowling with the red cherry evoked lots of interest on social media after the 30-year-old posted a series of stories on Instagram.
This injury-prone all-rounder has not played Test cricket since September 2018 and went through lower back surgery in 2019.
He was asked to play the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, but he denied the offer by saying that he did not want to take the spot of any regular red-ball player. He last played a first-class game in December 2018.
Pandya is still miles ahead as India's best pace bowling all-rounder with the likes of Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy nowhere near the colourful cricketer from Baroda.
The videos posted on social media hint that the all-rounder is trying to increase his workload ahead of the Bangladesh T20 series in October but he is yet to intimate the team management about his plans for red-ball cricket.
Pandya has played two competitive games -- the T20s against Sri Lanka -- since the World Cup final in June.
"It's heartening to know that Hardik is bowling with red ball but has he really spoken to men who matter (chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma) about his intentions?," a senior BCCI source asked.
It is understood that unless he plays some domestic red-ball cricket, he can't be directly selected even though he could bring in the required balance in Australia as the fourth pacer and No 7 batter.
Having skipped Duleep Trophy due to workload management, it has to be seen whether he plays red-ball cricket for Baroda.
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