With Shardul Thakur’s return to the Test squad for the England tour, the competition for the pace-bowling all-rounder’s spot in the India XI has intensified, and former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the Mumbaikar to pip Nitish Kumar Reddy for the first match, starting on Friday at Leeds.
Both Thakur and Nitish were part of both preparatory matches with India A against England Lions, picking two wickets each. Thakur also went onto make a statement with the bat, reportedly smashing 122 during the India vs India A intra-squad game last week. Harbhajan believes that Shardul is a better bowling option than Nitish and should be the prime contender to take the all-rounder’s position in the series.
“It will be important to see who is bowling better. I think India need a bowler who can bat a bit. India have got a batting line-up till 7. And at No. 8, you need to see who can bowl and get those wickets for you and bat a bit. Not someone who bats and bowls a little bit. I think that’s where Shardul will have an edge on Nitish Reddy,” Harbhajan told PTI.
Having played all five Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he carved his maiden Test hundred, Nitish bowled 42 overs in the series, picking up five wickets. The 22-year-old has not bowled for a majority of the IPL season after a return from injury, while Thakur’s comeback to the Test fold was forged after a fruitful domestic season with Mumbai.
“I think Nitish is a proper, proper batsman who can definitely bowl. But we have not seen him bowling in the IPL much. They will have to find out. You know, Gautam is there. He is a very capable coach. And I am sure he will make the right decision by picking the right one. You know, who is bowling better in those conditions and who could be more useful for the team.”
Thakur has played four Tests in England on the previous tour, snapping 10 wickets while also recording three fifties in seven innings.