New Delhi sources stated that Mike Hussey feels Hardik Pandya”s absence will “hurt” the visitors in the upcoming Test series against Australia and the series starts on December 6 in Adelaide. Presently Pandya is undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a lower back injury during the Asia Cup in Dubai last September.

Hussey told PTI in an exclusive interview “He thinks Hardik is a wonderful talent and he is sure his game style would have been suited to the Australian conditions. Add to that, the balance he offers the team with his all round abilities, yes he thinks his absence will hurt India”. Furthermore India have a good chance of doing well against a depleted Australia but ‘Mr. Cricket’ is confident that the home team’s seasoned bowling attack will test some of the younger batsmen in the visiting team.

Further India is being dubbed as favorites in many quarters primarily due to the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, but India could face a different challenge with the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari set to face Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the first time and the series starts on December 6 in Adelaide. Moreover “He thinks Hardik is a wonderful talent and he is sure his game style would have been suited to the Australian conditions. Add to that, the balance he offers the team with his all round abilities, yes he thinks his absence will hurt India”.