Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has backed Shardul Thakur over Nitish Kumar Reddy for a spot in the Indian XI for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, giving Shardul a bit of an advantage. With a tough competition for places in the 18-member squad, the selection race is heating up ahead of the first Test, starting June 20 in Leeds.
Shardul is returning to Test cricket after a break since December 2023, thanks to strong performances in domestic matches and during the 2025 IPL season. Nitish had a good run in his first Test series, scoring 298 runs in five matches, including a century during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In an interview with PTI, Harbhajan explained why he believes Shardul is the better pick, saying India’s need for a fast-bowling all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball is crucial. India needs a bowler who can bat a little. The batting lineup goes deep, but at No. 8, you need someone who can take wickets and also help with the runs—not just someone who can bat a bit, Harbhajan pointed out.
He noted that while Nitish is a good batsman who can bowl, we haven’t seen much of his bowling in the IPL. Gautam (Gambhir) is a capable coach, and I’m sure he’ll make the right choice, he added.
Harbhajan mentioned that Nitish bowled only five overs in 13 IPL matches this season. Still, the young all-rounder is putting in the effort to improve his bowling before the Test series. Both players took part in India’s warm-up matches but didn’t bowl as well as hoped. Despite that, Shardul made a mark in an intra-squad game by scoring a century and bowling solidly.
Shardul also has useful experience playing in England, having taken 10 wickets in four Tests there, with a standout four-wicket haul during the 2021–22 series. Known for breaking partnerships, he bowled over 200 overs in the domestic season, taking 35 wickets in nine matches in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, keeping him fit for the game.
On another note, Harbhajan expressed support for including both Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the first Test at Headingley, suggesting that using two spinners could work well in the English conditions.