India has named its squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the inclusion of fast bowlers Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy grabbing attention. The Indian team is preparing for a tough series against Australia, with some fresh faces added to the roster.
Harshit Rana’s selection comes as a boost to the pace department, especially with Mohammed Shami missing from the squad. Rana, known for his pace and ability to deliver yorkers and short balls, was reportedly backed strongly by head coach Gautam Gambhir. A BCCI insider revealed (to PTI) that Gambhir has been advocating for Rana’s inclusion for some time, especially since the Sri Lanka tour, ensuring that the young pacer stayed in contention as a reserve bowler.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s selection as a seam-bowling all-rounder has been called a “desperate” move by some within the BCCI, pointing to India’s current shortage of players in that role. Reddy, from Andhra Pradesh, has limited experience in First-Class cricket but his recent performances, particularly in the IPL, have made him a candidate to balance the squad. According to a BCCI official, with Hardik Pandya not playing red-ball cricket and Shivam Dube’s bowling affected by injury, India had to turn to Reddy despite his inexperience.
India is set to face Australia in a five-match series, starting in Perth on November 22. With a mix of established players and new faces like Rana and Reddy, the team will be hoping to find the right balance and perform well in challenging conditions.