Team India’s intra-squad practice match at Beckenham, Kent, was called off early on Day Three, following a stunning all-round performance from Shardul Thakur. Turning out for India A, Thakur made a compelling case for his inclusion in the playing XI for the upcoming Test series against England by smashing an unbeaten 122 against a high-quality bowling attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh.
Thakur’s innings, which began late on Day Two when he remained unbeaten on 19, culminated in a composed and authoritative century on Day Three. Marked by crisp stroke play and his trademark counter-attacking flair, the knock has handed the team management a welcome selection headache ahead of the Headingley Test starting 21 June.
Before his exploits with the bat, Thakur had also impressed with the ball, troubling top-order batters such as KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Karun Nair during India A’s bowling stint. Renowned for his knack of delivering breakthroughs at crucial moments, Thakur once again lived up to his reputation as a reliable all-rounder.
The match, originally scheduled to run until 16 June, was called off prematurely, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming:
“Team India’s intra-squad game has ended. A complete day off on 16th June. The team will leave for Leeds on 17th June.”
The match was played behind closed doors, with no live telecast or official scorecards released. However, reports indicate several standout performances over the three-day simulation. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill both struck fifties on Day One, while Sarfaraz Khan made headlines with a blistering 101 off just 76 balls on Day Two, featuring 15 fours and two sixes – a knock that further cements his growing reputation in the Test arena.
Emerging batter Sai Sudharsan also contributed with a handy 38, as the Shubman Gill-led India side completed its only warm-up fixture ahead of the five-match series.
A key talking point to emerge from the match is the intensifying competition for the seam-bowling all-rounder’s spot in the Test XI. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who played all five Tests in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy and scored a century in Melbourne, was less impactful with the ball. Thakur, meanwhile, brings a proven Test record – 31 wickets and 331 runs from 11 matches – and is widely seen as possessing a “golden arm” for his ability to break partnerships against the run of play.
After strong domestic performances for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, Thakur earned a recall to the Test squad for the England series. His most recent Test appearance came against South Africa in Centurion in December 2023. Given his match-winning credentials with both bat and ball, he could prove a valuable asset in English conditions known to favour seam and swing.
With the Headingley Test now just days away, the Indian think tank faces a tricky yet welcome decision: to persist with the promise of Reddy, or to trust in the experience and current form of Shardul Thakur.