Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik acknowledged that Hardik Pandya’s potential return to Test cricket will be great news for Indian cricket but at the same time, he admitted he would be surprised if it happens any time soon.

Karthik said he is aware of Pandya’s body restrictions and added it would be challenging for the all-rounder to make a comeback to the red-ball format. 

Recently, Pandya was seen practicing with the red ball, triggering reports of his potential comeback to Test cricket.

Pandya last played a Test match for India in 2018 against England at the Oval. Subsequently, Pandya suffered a horrific back injury and later admitted his body isn’t ready for the adversities of Test cricket.

Since the back injury, Pandya has only played in the limited-overs format and he has managed his bowling workload with guile. Pandya also made a fantastic comeback in the T20 World Cup and bowled the final over against South Africa at Barbados, where he successfully defended 15 runs.

“Wow, that would be really good. Especially someone with his skill set, so fast bowling and batting in Australia would be good, but to be very honest, I would be very surprised, because I know his body; it’s not that easy for him to play Test cricket where he is today, so I again will be surprised,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show.

On the other hand, Indian batter Hanuma Vihari also said it will be great news for Indian cricket if Hardik Pandya makes a return to Test cricket.

“Hardik, I don’t know, whether he is really keen to come back to the Test format. But, if he wants, I think it’s good news for Indian cricket because an all-rounder like him can really be a boost to the Indian side, especially when we are playing in Perth or the pink-ball Test. You need that extra fast-bowling option, where you can take that advantage,” Hanuma Vihari, Expert Jio Cinema and Sports 18, told IndiaToday.in on Thursday.

Pandya will be seen in action in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.