Hardik Pandya could boost his chances of becoming India's captain if he starts playing first-class cricket more regularly, according to former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar. Pandya is a crucial player for India in limited-overs formats and was long seen as a potential captain for the T20 team. However, after Rohit Sharma stepped down following the 2024 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav took over the captaincy, and now Axar Patel has been named vice-captain ahead of Pandya in the current five-match series against England.

Manjrekar pointed out that the landscape of Indian cricket could shift with new management in the BCCI or changes in the selection committee, as everyone has their own style. He emphasized that for Pandya, the main thing is to demonstrate his commitment to playing consistently. While he hasn't been active in first-class cricket, getting back into it could really help his case.

Hardik Pandya's unchanging Test career

Pandya's Test career hit a snag after he suffered a serious lower-back injury during the 2018 Asia Cup. This injury nearly derailed his career since it kept him from bowling for extended periods. However, since 2023, he has bounced back as a reliable all-rounder for India in limited-overs cricket, playing a key role in their 2024 T20 World Cup victory. His absence midway through the 2023 World Cup is also considered a significant factor in India's loss in the final.

As for his Test career, Pandya's last match was the fourth Test against England in Southampton back in August-September 2018. In the 11 Tests he has played, he scored 532 runs with an average of 31.29, including one century and five fifties. He also took 11 wickets at an average of 31.05. His final first-class game was for Baroda against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in December 2018, where he claimed five wickets in the first innings and two in the second, while also scoring 73 runs in Baroda's only innings, leading to a draw.

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