Nitish Kumar Reddy may make his Take a look at debut within the series-opener towards Australia.© AFP
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has questioned the absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Shardul from the Take a look at staff for the five-match sequence towards Australia. Harbhajan’s remarks got here amid reviews of younger all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy making his Take a look at debut within the series-opener towards Australia in Perth. Throughout a pre-match press convention on Wednesday, India bowling coach Morne Morkel lavished huge reward on Nitish, who made his India debut final month through the T20I sequence towards Bangladesh.
With simply 23 first-class video games below his belt, Nitish’s inclusion within the BGT sequence turned out to be a shock for a lot of. Nevertheless, he has impressed the selectors and assist workers, together with Morkel, through the intra-squad follow match.
Harbhajan, nevertheless, questioned BCCI’s choice committee over the absence of seniors Hardik and Shardul from the Take a look at squad.
“You wanted an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya. However you do not have an choice however to play Nitish Kumar Reddy. The place is Shardul Thakur gone? The place is Hardik Pandya gone? We simply confined them to shorter codecs. You wanted a participant like Hardik. We began investing in Shardul for the final 2-3 years, however the place is he now? All of a sudden on a tour like this you might be asking Nitish to bowl,” Harbhajan mentioned on Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel.
Whereas Hardik final performed a Take a look at in 2018, Shardul was a part of the Indian staff throughout its earlier journey to Australia. He was in rivalry for a spot within the staff this time as properly, however the selectors determined to go along with the less-experienced Nitish.
Amid reviews of Nitish making a debut in Perth, Harbhajan desires the teen to play a task much like former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who would help the bowlers along with his medium tempo bowling.
“What he can do is simply bowl just a few overs right here and there like Sourav Ganguly did, and if he will get 1-2 wickets, then that may be a bonus,” he added.
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