The first Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy is just a few days away, and with India expected to go with four seamers and one spinner, Harbhajan Singh has picked his fast-bowling all-rounder for the Headingley Test.
India’s 4th Seamer Dilemma: Shardul vs Nitish
One of the most debated questions ahead of the 1st Test is India’s fourth seamer option, who can also contribute with the bat. The team has two candidates, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur. Both have similar profiles, but the key difference is that Nitish is seen as a more solid batter than a bowler, while it’s the reverse for Shardul.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who last bowled during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025, suffered an injury and was sidelined for a few months before IPL 2025. He returned to Sunrisers Hyderabad as a specialist batter for the initial matches, but later resumed bowling his full quota of overs in the second half of the tournament. However, his overall form has dipped since returning from injury.
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Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur had a strong domestic season with the ball in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai and followed it up with a decent run for the Lucknow Super Giants, taking regular wickets. As a batter, Shardul Thakur had shone on the previous England tour, saving India on multiple occasions. Currently, in the Test series against England Lions, he has made some notable contributions batting down the order.
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Harbhajan Backs Shardul Over Nitish for First Test
Speaking on the same, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh opened up on his choice of player he prefers for the first Test. He highlighted that India needs a bowler who can bat a bit, and while he feels Nitish is a proper batter, Shardul Thakur matches his expectations of a bowler who can contribute with the bat. Harbhajan also believes that with previous experience in England, Shardul will have an edge over Nitish Kumar Reddy in the first Test.
“I think Nitish is a proper, proper batsman who can 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.”
Notably, Shardul Thakur has 10 wickets and 3 fifties in England from the four Tests he played in previous tours.
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025.
