Nitish Reddy or Shardul Thakur? Who will be the seam-bowling all-rounder for India in the IND vs ENG 1st Test? It is surely a toss-up if at all Gautam Gambhir picks a seam-bowling all-rounder for the Leeds Test. But as things stand, Reddy might be a little ahead of the curve after getting a vote of confidence from India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel.
Both Reddy and Thakur failed to impress in the India A vs England Lions series. Although Reddy scored a half-century and followed that up with 34 and 42 in the second match, with the ball, he looked rusty. Thakur, on the other hand, bowled 2/105 and 0/40 in two matches. He scored 27, 19 and 34 in three innings. But for Morkel, Reddy can bowl that magical ball, and that could be a hint at India’s combination for the Leeds Test.
“The more bowling options we can have, that’s great. He’s skillful. He’s a guy that can bowl that magical ball, so for him it’s about creating that consistency. It’s something we want to work on, it’s important for his game as well. I’ve had conversations where I’ve challenged him to bowl a bit more,” Morne Morkel told reporters on the sidelines of India’s practice session at Kent.
Nitish Reddy vs Shardul Thakur
Unlike Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur is a bowling all-rounder. He does have two half-centuries in England. But more importantly, he is looked at as a cover for Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management. Thakur must step up with the ball when Bumrah takes a break from his spells. In Australia, India struggled when Bumrah wasn’t in action. Mohd Siraj failed to impress as a second seamer. India cannot afford a repeat of that.
Hence, either Thakur or Reddy must step up with the ball too. However, unlike Thakur, Reddy hasn’t been tested enough with the ball. In the IPL 2025, returning from an injury, Reddy bowled just 30 deliveries in 13 matches. He did not show up with the bat either. In the India A series, Reddy bowled 26.5 overs in two matches.
In Australia, Reddy bowled 44 overs in five Tests with 13 overs being his highest in the Brisbane Test. Hence, Morne Morkel wants him to bowl more to be ready to assist India’s seam attack. In the nets at Kent, Reddy has been building his bowling workload.
“I want to see the ball more in his hands. We all know what he can do with the bat. For a team, if we can have the bowling options, especially in these conditions, I think he’ll be exciting. He can complement this bowling attack,” Morkel was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
Nitish Reddy’s bowling in BGT 2024-25
| Perth | Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 of 110 overs (1 wicket) |
7 of 90.5 overs (1 wicket) |
13 of 135.1 overs (1 wicket) |
8 of 124.5 overs (0 wickets) |
9 of 78 overs (2 wickets) |
What about Shardul Thakur?
Unlike Reddy, Shardul Thakur comes in as a fourth seamer who can bat a bit to prolong India’s tail. He comes back to India Test team after some solid performances in domestic cricket. However, he failed to make a mark in the India A vs England Lions series.
Thakur bowled 43 overs in two matches in the India A series but had disappointing returns of 2/105 and 0/40. With nothing impressive to show for with the bat, new Test captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir could mull adding an extra seamer instead. If Reddy steps up in the India vs India A warm-up match, he could get the nod in the IND vs ENG Leeds Test.
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