{"id":179245,"date":"2024-11-21T01:12:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T01:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/21\/where-is-shardul-thakur-harbhajan-singh-questions-all-rounder-selection-ahead-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-opener-cricket-news-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2024-11-21T01:12:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T01:12:45","slug":"where-is-shardul-thakur-harbhajan-singh-questions-all-rounder-selection-ahead-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-opener-cricket-news-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/21\/where-is-shardul-thakur-harbhajan-singh-questions-all-rounder-selection-ahead-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-opener-cricket-news-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Where is Shardul Thakur?’: Harbhajan Singh questions all-rounder selection ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener | Cricket News – Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Harbhajan Singh (Photo by Pankaj Nangia\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh<\/a> voiced his concerns about the team’s composition ahead of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth.
Team India is reportedly considering giving all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy his first Test cap in the opening match. Nitish has received an unexpected call-up after his recent debut in T20 Internationals against Bangladesh.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy<\/a>
Harbhajan Singh, during a discussion on Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel, emphasized the limited experience in Reddy’s first-class career. The 21-year-old has played 23 matches, accumulating 779 runs at an average of 21.05 and claiming 56 wickets at an average of 26.98. <\/p>\n

Harbhajan questioned the decision to place such a crucial responsibility on Reddy in the demanding conditions of Perth. The former spinner also highlighted the absence of Shardul Thakur<\/a>, who played a key part in India’s notable series victory in Australia during the 2020-21 season.
“You needed an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya<\/a>. But you don’t have an option but to play Nitish Kumar<\/a> Reddy. Where is Shardul Thakur? Where is Hardik Pandya? We just confined them to shorter formats. Suddenly, on a tour like this, you’re asking Nitish to bowl,” Harbhajan said.<\/p>\n

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Nitish Reddy: Can he be the all-rounder India are looking for? | #BTBHighlights<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Harbhajan suggested that Reddy’s role might be comparable to the bowling contributions of former captain Sourav Ganguly<\/a>, providing a few overs of medium pace and potentially picking up crucial breakthroughs.
“What he can do is just bowl a few overs here and there like Sourav Ganguly did, and if he gets 1-2 wickets, then that would be a bonus,” Harbhajan added.
As the first Test is set to commence at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Friday, there are questions being raised about the team’s approach to selection.<\/p>\n

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India Need to Take a Big Call on the Pace Bowling Department for Perth Test<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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