India A vs India intra-squad match

India’s intra-squad match called off after Shardul Thakur hits 122 vs Bumrah, Siraj

Danijones13 hours ago05 mins

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. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: Jun 16, 2025

India’s intrasquad match: Shardul Thakur slams 122 not out, takes four wickets; all you need to know | Cricket News

Danijones1 day ago04 mins

Shardul Thakur bats against Indian bowlers (@BCCI on X) Mumbai: Demonstrating his value for selection in the first Test against England, Shardul Thakur produced an impressive unbeaten 122 from 68 deliveries while representing India A against India in the intra-squad fixture at Beckenham on Sunday.The third day saw Thakur become the second player to reach three figures in India A’s innings, following Sarfaraz Khan’s 101 from 76 balls (featuring 15 boundaries and two sixes) before his retired dismissal on day two. Thakur achieved his century facing India’s Test bowling unit of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The intra-squad match between India and India A was called off by the management midway through Day Three. The game was supposed to last until Monday, June 16. However, the management called the match off after two and a half days.“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 BCCI stated on Sunday. The practice match wasn’t telecast live, nor were the scores made available to the media officially. A source tracking developments told TOI, “It was the team’s discretion whether to play a three or four-day match. The scores can’t be completely relied upon, because a few players batted twice (Washington Sundar for India A, for example).”Earlier, India had posted 469 on the board. Poll Should Shardul Thakur be included in the playing XI for the Headingley Test? Notably, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI’s Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman observed Sarfaraz and Shardul’s centuries at Beckenham.Shardul was unbeaten at the crease on 19 off just 10 balls, with four fours at stumps on Day 2. Thakur’s fine show in the practice match now gives him an edge over fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Shardul, who last played a Test for India in 2023, was not a part of India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Nitish Kumar Reddy played all five Tests, scoring a century in the Melbourne Test. Kuldeep Yadav hints at spin-friendly wicket ahead of England Test series Shardul has a knack for taking wickets against the tide and is rated highly as a man with a golden arm. Whether he gets a go in the playing XI for the Headingley Test remains to be seen.In his 11 Test matches for India, Thakur has claimed 31 wickets, including one five-wicket haul, while accumulating 331 runs across 18 innings with a highest score of 67.Following strong performances for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, Thakur earned his Test squad recall for the England series. His previous Test appearance was against South Africa in Centurion during December 2023.