Harbhajan’s Choice Between Shardul and Nitish: Selection Headache Ahead of England Test Series

As Team India prepares for the five-Test series against England starting June 20 at Leeds, the entire debate surrounding the squad selection comes to the forefront. One of the raging debates concerning the slot of the fast-bowling all-rounder ahead of the first Test is whether Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy ought to get the pick. Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is supporting senior pro Shardul Thakur and has ignored the claim of promising youngster Nitish.

 

Harbhajan’s endorsement of Shardul has brought renewed clarity to what has seemingly become one of the most contentious selection decisions in recent times. It now also adds importance to the “Harbhajan’s choice between Shardul and Nitish” debate that is enveloping the cricketing circles and on platforms like Starexchange, where cricket enthusiasts engage in match prediction and analysis.

Experience vs Youth: Harbhajan Weighs In

 

Harbhajan Singh, referring to PTI, highlighted how a pacer should be a genuine all-rounder rather than just being able to run with the ball, “India needs a bowler who can bat a bit. At No. 8, you need someone who can take wickets and contribute with the bat—not just a batsman who bowls a little,” he said.

 

This says a lot. It further strengthens Harbhajan’s choice between Shardul and Nitish because while Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 298 runs, including a century, in his first Test series in Australia, he still has a lot of work to do in bowling, with only five overs in 13 matches in IPL 2025.

 

Shardul, on the other hand, came back to the Test fold from a commanding domestic season, followed by a successful IPL campaign. His match-winning 122-run knock in an intra-squad game against India A, combined with four wickets, showcased his dual skills.

Advantage Shardul: A Case Built on Form and Fitness

 

Harbhajan’s choice between Shardul and Nitish is mostly dependent on Shardul’s red-ball experience and effectiveness in English conditions. The all-rounder from Mumbai took 10 wickets in four Tests in England, including a very crucial four-wicket haul during the previous series.

 

Away from numbers, Shardul’s ability to break partnerships and bowl long spells proved his worth during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season when he picked up 35 wickets in nine matches. He is a real asset who can swing the ball and generate bounce even in not-so-helpful conditions.

 

Nitish Kumar Reddy has the talent, but he lacks the bowling miles expected from a bowler during the tough grind of a five-Test series. Harbhajan does recognize Nitish’s potential, but feels that his first skill lies with bat-and-ball. “Nitish is a proper batsman who can bowl, but we haven’t seen much of his bowling,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying.

Cricket Match Predictions: How Fans Are Reading It

 

Starexch was one such online gaming site where live cricket match predictions revolved around player forms, match-ups, and pitch conditions. The debate on Harbhajan’s choice between Shardul and Nitish is right now the most trending one, as everyone has started speculating about India’s probable XI for the first Test.

 

The other reason why Shardul appears to be the safest bet- he is in sizzling form and has already enjoyed great success in England. Credible ground has already been added from past performances of Shardul for fans to support the assumption that he would be starting at Leeds.

Dual Spin or Extra Batter? Harbhajan Backs Kuldeep

 

Apart from the debate of fast-bowling all-rounders, Harbhajan also suggested that both players should be included in the XI, including Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Dry patches at Headingley may begin to support spinners on days 3 or 4, given that English conditions generally favor seamers.

 

Charging to Harbhajan, fielding two spinners along with three pacemen and an all-rounder like Shardul could just be the right balance. This strategy may not only enhance India’s options for wicket-taking but may also add batting depth till No.9.

Shardul’s Intra-Squad Brilliance: A Defining Moment

 

The India vs India A exhibition match, abbreviated on Day 3, facilitated many observations regarding player readiness. With the surreal promotion of Shardul’s century and the impact of his bowling, his selection is on the verge of being called God’s Own Truth due to his performance, where Harbhajan Singh’s choice between Shardul and Nitish has been pushed even more in Shardul’s favour. 

 

Meanwhile, Nitish is fine-tuning his bowling workload during the nets and warm-up matches to present a more complete all-round package.

India’s Squad: Packed with Talent

 

The Indian Test squad for the England series brings a blend of youth and experience. Intense competition offers Shubman Gill as captain, with KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant as the batting core.

 

Indian Test Squad:

 

• Batters: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair
• Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant(Vice Captain), Dhruv Jurel
• All-rounders: Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja
• Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav 

 

The cricketing fraternity is on countdown awaiting the moment of tryst with destiny, that first ball at Leeds, while the Indian think tank must decide whether to stake their claim on experience or promise. Current form and Harbhajan Singh’s words could throw Harbhajan into the conviction of Shardul being preferred over Nitish quite strongly.

FAQs

 

What made Harbhajan Singh root for Shardul Thakur instead of Nitish Kumar Reddy?
According to Harbhajan, India needs a proper all-round fast bowler for the No. 8 spot and Shardul has greater batting and bowling accomplishments than the other.

 

What has Shardul Thakur’s form been like lately as an argument for being called up?
In a recent intrasquad match, he scored a century and claimed four scalps, all this following great runs in domestic and IPL matches.

 

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, how did Nitish Kumar Reddy perform?
Nitish had 298 runs from five tests, and included in it was a century, even as he didn’t send down much bowling.

 

What do the latest match predictions say regarding India’s XI?
Most predictions favor Shardul Thakur in the XI because of his form and history in England.

 

Could India have both Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in their first Test line-up?
Yes, Harbhajan Singh thinks that two spinners can work in England, especially if conditions are spin-friendly later in the match.