I don’t like to draw conclusions based on white ball performances but the Hardik we saw in the ODI series against Australia didn’t seem like the Old Hardik who would score a brisk 30-40 and then gift his wicket away. He seemed much more responsible and determined to score bigger than before albeit we don’t have a big sample to go by and that’s not red ball anyway. But it shows some progress in his temperament at least.

In red ball Hardik averages 31 which isn’t phenomenal but for an all-rounder is not bad either. If he gets to play a test during the England series in India and shows match fitness (bowl two innings fully) and scores well, then I don’t see why he shouldn’t merit consideration if the conditions suit him during the away tour. We can’t be fixated about it.

Hardik isn’t a talent anymore. Gill is a talent. To call Hardik just a talent is not right.