Indian T20 team captain Hardik Pandya has given a big statement regarding WTC. Pandya said that, I will not return to Test cricket until I work sincerely for it. I believe playing the final of the World Test Championship straight away without playing a single Test would be cheating on my fellow players who have been playing Tests for a whole year and working hard to make it into the team.

Pandya further said – I will not be available for the WTC final and the upcoming Test series. Pandya said this in the press conference before the first ODI against Australia.

Last played Test in 2018
Hardik Pandya played the last Test match against England in Southampton in the year 2018.

Will captain in ODI for the first time
In the first ODI against Australia, Hardik Pandya will also captain India for the first time in the ODI format. Rohit Sharma will not play the first ODI due to family reasons. He will join and captain the team from the second ODI. No player was named as vice-captain in the Test team. In such a situation, it is possible that KL Rahul is no longer the vice-captain of the team.

Iyer’s injury worrying
Pandya further said that, Shreya Iyer’s back injury is worrying for the team. With the World Cup round the corner, Shreyas’ back injury has left the team’s number 4 spot vacant. If Iyer is not fit then we will have to find his replacement as soon as possible. Shreyas Iyer is a great batsman and we want him to return to the team as soon as possible.

28-year-old Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer had recovered from injury only last month. He returned to the team from the Delhi Test against Australia and was also a part of Team India in the Indore Test. Iyer had pain in his lower back during the last match. After this he was sent for the scan. Now BCCI has confirmed that Iyer is injured.

Ishaan Kishan may get a chance
Pandya told in the press conference that in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Ishaan can open with Kishan Gill.

Indian team for ODI series against Australia

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (VICE CAPTAIN), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (WK), Akshar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur.