'Don’t think Hardik Pandya's body allows four-day and five-day matches' - Parthiv Patel on all-rounder's potential Test comeback

Hardik Pandya was recently spotted practicing with a red ball and that opened the door for speculations regarding his comeback to Test cricket. However, Parthiv Patel opined that the Baroda all-rounder's body is in a shape where it can't handle the rigors of the five-day format of the game.

Hardik played his last Test match in September 2018. After the start of play on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test between India and Bangladesh got delayed due to rain and damp outfield, Parthiv dismissed the speculations regarding Hardik's return to the longest format, saying that the 30-year-old was practicing with the red ball only because the white ones weren't available.

Also Read: 'I would be very surprised because I know his body' - Dinesh Karthik on chances of Hardik Pandya’s Test return

“I’m not looking at Hardik Pandya (in Tests). He was practicing with the red ball only because the white ball wasn’t available. I don’t think his body allows four-day and five-day matches. He has to play at least one first-class game (before being considered for selection in Tests), which is very unlikely,” Parthiv was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The second Test was an opportunity for India to use Yash Dayal: Parthiv Patel

The former India wicketkeeper-batter feels that India missed an opportunity to try out Yash Dayal in the second Test in Kanpur between India and Bangladesh. The left-arm pacer earned his maiden India call-up for the two-match series but will have to wait for his debut. Patel said that India won't be able to experiment in their upcoming series against New Zealand.

“The second Test was an opportunity for India to use Yash Dayal. And no, I’m not undermining Bangladesh, but if this Test match ends in a draw, it is very important to address that the next series will be against New Zealand, and then they won’t be in a position to experiment,” he said.

Also Read: If Hardik Pandya wants Test return, I think it's good news for Indian cricket: Hanuma Vihari

Dayal has played 24 first-class matches and taken 76 wickets at an average of 28.89. He has also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The 26-year-old is expected to be released from the India squad to allow him to join Rest of India ahead of the Irani Cup encounter versus Mumbai in Lucknow, starting on Tuesday, October 1.