WATCH: Hardik Pandya spotted bowling with red ball as Test season approaches

India cricketer Hardik Pandya started his preparations ahead of next month's T20I series between India and Bangladesh. However, the fact that he was seen bowling with the red ball has caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts.

Ahead of the three-match T20I series in October, India host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series, starting on Thursday, September 19. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced their 16-man squad for the first Test in Chennai last week and Pandya, who hasn't played the longest format of the game since September 2018, wasn't named in the side. As expected, the Baroda all-rounder wasn't named in any of the four sides which are playing in the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024.

However, the 30-year-old bowled with a red ball in a practice session, much to the surprise of the cricket fraternity, despite not being in contention or a mandate to feature in the longer format of the game.

Watch the video of Hardik Pandya bowling with red ball:

Pandya has played 11 Tests for India, scoring 532 runs at 31.29 and bagging 17 wickets at 31.06. No concrete reports are suggesting that the Choryasi-born is looking to make a comeback to red-ball cricket. However, fans have begun their speculations.

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Pandya's impressive white-ball numbers

Pandya, however, continues to be an integral part of India's white-ball setup. He has scored 1,769 runs and picked up 84 wickets from the 86 ODIs he has played so far. Meanwhile, in 102 T20Is, Pandya has aggregated 1,523 runs and taken 86 wickets. He played a significant role in India's T20 World Cup-winning campaign in June, bowling a fantastic last over in the final against South Africa.

The flamboyant cricketer was in the running to become India's new T20I captain after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format following the triumph against the Proteas. However, Suryakumar Yadav pipped the all-rounder in the race.

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India will play the three T20Is against Bangladesh on October 06, 09, and 12. The first match will be played in Gwalior, followed by the second in Delhi. The third and final encounter will be held in Hyderabad, and Pandya is will feature in the series as a vital cog for the Men in Blue.