Hardik Pandya says 'heading back home' after raising hopes of extending stay for Tests

Swashbuckling India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Tuesday said he is "heading back home", two days after raising hopes of extending his stay in Australia for upcoming Test series following his incredible outing in limited-overs leg.

Coming off a back surgery and yet to start bowling on a regular basis, Pandya's showing in just-concluded limited overs leg of tour gave rise to hopes that he might be considered for Test selection.

And those beliefs were strengned when all-rounder, after his match-winning effort on Sunday, said he wouldn't mind staying back if team manment wants. However, two days later, he confirmed that he is going back to India.

"I think I should head back home and spend some quality time with my family. I haven't seen my child for four months, so I'd like to spend some time with family right w," Pandya said after third and final T20 International against Australia. "Maybe in future. I don't kw, maybe," he added when asked about his Test comeback.

Earlier, asked if he aspired to stay back for Test series starting December 17, Pandya had said, "It's a different ball game, I think I need to be, I mean I don't mind but at end of day, call is on manment." In company of his skipper Virat Kohli, Pandya again threatened to take India home but Australia held nerves to finish with a consolation win after conceding series in second game on Sunday.

For sheer impact he made with his astonishing hitting, Pandya was named Man of Series. "I'm quite pleased, and wouldn't mind getting Man of Series award, but it was a team effort. We all decided after second ODI that we'll treat this as a four-match series w and we were hoping that we would win 3 three of four and that's what we got, so happy with that," Pandya said.

India lost ODI rubber 1-2 after going down in first two matches but fought back brilliantly to claim T20I series with wins in first and second game respectively.

Pandya underwent a back surgery in October last year in UK. His lower back had troubled him since Test series in England in 2018.

surgery kept him out of action for almost a year, with all-rounder last playing a T20 International against South Africa at home in September 2019.

He missed Tests against same opposition after that, home series against Bangladesh and West Indies, a T20I series against Sri Lanka and ODIs against Australia at home, and entire tour of New Zealand earlier this year. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/ICC)