India's Intra-Squad Game Called Off After Thakur Makes a Mockery of Bumrah, Siraj's Bowling

India's Intra-Squad Game Called Off After Thakur Makes a Mockery of Bumrah, Siraj's Bowling Newspoint | 16/06/2025 16:39:18

Ahead of the first match of the upcoming Test series against England, Team India’s final practice game, an intra-squad match between India and India A, was called off a day earlier.

The four-day practice game was supposed to run until June 16, but it was called off on June 15, with the BCCI’s official X handle posting, “... and that’s a wrap from Beckanham!” while sharing multiple pictures from the match.

📸 📸 ... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗺! pic.twitter.com/VSn1kHozTy
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2025

While the official reason for ending the intra-squad match, which was played behind closed doors, early hasn’t been specified, several media reports suggest that the decision coincided with Shardul Thakur’s crazy power-hitting on Day 3, where the all-rounder slammed an unbeaten 122*, making a complete mockery of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh.

Starting his innings on the overnight score of 19, Thakur played a counter-attacking knock, slamming Bumrah, Siraj & Co. to all parts of the ground on his way to a magnificent century.

None of the bowlers could get him out as he finished the innings at 122 not out, presenting a strong case for his selection in the starting line-up of the series opener of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy.

Before impressing with the bat, Thakur also bowled magnificently, troubling India’s front-line batters, including skipper Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Karun Nair.

Thakur’s all-round show in the intra-squad match has given the Gautam Gambhir-led team management a massive selection headache ahead of the first Test in Leeds.

The 33-year-old is making a comeback to the Indian team after a long time, having last played a Test match for India back in December 2023.

He wasn’t picked for India’s tour of Australia, with young Nitish Kumar Reddy getting the nod ahead of the seasoned player. Reddy featured in all five Tests Down Under and also scored an impressive century in the Melbourne Test.

Reddy’s performance Down Under convinced everyone that he would be India’s first-choice fast-bowling all-rounder going forward, but Thakur’s recent performance has left that spot wide open.