With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy around the corner, the Indian squad has seen some interesting inclusions, with the addition of pacers Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy standing out. While Rana’s selection is attributed to his strong advocate Gautam Gambhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s selection has been called a “desperate” measure by a BCCI official, given the lack of available seam-bowling all-rounders.
Harshit Rana: Gautam Gambhir strong pick
With Mohammed Shami absent from the 18-member squad, Indian selectors were under pressure to find a reliable pacer to join Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep. Among the potential choices—Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed—it was the Delhi-born Harshit Rana who won the spot.
According to a BCCI insider, it was Rana’s consistent high pace, his well-honed short ball, and yorker abilities that set him apart.
However, his selection is also the result of continuous backing from head coach Gautam Gambhir. “Harshit Rana has been completely Gautam Gambhir’s choice. He has been pushing his case for the longest time since the Sri Lanka tour,” the BCCI source shared to PTI, noting that Gambhir had ensured Rana remained in the loop as a reserve bowler.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: ‘Desperate’ Inclusion for Balance
Andhra Pradesh’s Nitish Kumar Reddy has also made it to the Test squad for the Australian tour as a seam-bowling all-rounder. Despite his limited experience in First-Class cricket with only one century and two five-wicket hauls in 21 matches, Reddy’s selection is seen as a compromise due to a shortage of seam-bowling all-rounders.
“Hardik Pandya has stopped playing red-ball cricket, and Shivam Dube’s bowling isn’t up to the mark due to injury,” explained the BCCI official. The source acknowledged that while Nitish Kumar Reddy shows potential, his inclusion reflects India’s immediate need for balance within the squad.
“He’s a work in progress, but if India are to bring in balance, they need their fourth seamer to be an all-rounder,” the official added, clarifying that Reddy’s recent performances in the IPL and Bangladesh series made him a viable, if hasty, choice.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Upcoming Fixtures
The eagerly anticipated series will kick off in Perth, followed by a Day/Night Test at the Adelaide Oval on December 6. The third Test heads to Brisbane on December 14, before concluding with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
With a roster that includes fresh faces like Rana and Reddy, the Indian side is preparing for a challenging series, hoping to find success despite the necessity of some experimental selections.
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