Team India’s only warm-up fixture ahead of the crucial Test series against England has thrown up a familiar name demanding attention — Shardul Thakur. The intra-squad match, held at Beckenham in Kent, was cut short on Day Three, but not before Thakur delivered a sensational all-round performance that could significantly influence India’s team selection for the Headingley Test starting June 21.

Representing India A, Thakur showcased his trademark resilience and flair, slamming an unbeaten 122 against a potent bowling attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh. Coming in late on Day Two at 19 not out, he continued to dominate on Day Three with elegant strokes and counter-attacking intent, steering his side into a commanding position before the game was halted.

What makes his case even stronger is his earlier contribution with the ball. Thakur troubled established batters like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Karun Nair, reaffirming his reputation for picking crucial wickets at just the right time — a skill that has earned him the “golden arm” tag in red-ball cricket.

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The match, originally scheduled to conclude on June 16, was called off prematurely. The BCCI confirmed, “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 game was held behind closed doors, with no official scorecards, but key performances filtered through media reports.

📸 📸 … 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗺! pic.twitter.com/VSn1kHozTy

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2025

Among the highlights were fifties from Rahul and Gill on Day One, while Sarfaraz Khan lit up Day Two with a blistering 101 off 76 balls — a knock that included 15 boundaries and two sixes. Sai Sudharsan also made a valuable 38, showing promise in his warm-up outing.

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However, the major talking point is the battle for the seam-bowling all-rounder’s slot. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, was less effective with the ball during this game. In contrast, Thakur, with 31 wickets and 331 runs from 11 Tests, adds both experience and form. After a successful domestic season with Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, he earned a recall and could be crucial in England’s swing-friendly conditions.

As the countdown to Headingley begins, the Indian selectors are left with a key decision: back the potential of Reddy or ride the proven capabilities and red-hot form of Shardul Thakur.