Battle For No. 8: Shardul vs Harshit Heats Up Ahead of 2027 World Cup

Shardul Thakur, the 34-year-old Mumbai captain and seasoned India all-rounder, has thrown down the gauntlet to chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the national team management, explicitly targeting the No. 8 batting position—currently occupied by rising star Harshit Rana—for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Speaking to reporters after Mumbai's drawn Ranji Trophy Elite Group match against Chhattisgarh at the MCA Academy in BKC on October 28, 2025, Thakur declared, "The ODI World Cup is also in South Africa, so there might be a place open for a bowling all-rounder at No. 8. I am, of course, eyeing that spot." His bold assertion mirrors recent public jabs from seniors like Mohammed Shami, signalling growing impatience among veterans amid India's youth-driven rebuild.

Thakur, with 47 ODIs (last in the 2023 World Cup), 25 T20Is, and 13 Tests, earned a Test recall for the 2025 England tour via domestic heroics but managed just 2/ (21 overs) and 41 at Manchester, earning no further call-ups for West Indies or India A vs South Africa A. Undeterred, he emphasised match-winning consistency: "What is important for me is to keep playing matches and perform... Good, match-winning performances will help in selection. Whenever selected, I'm ready." Leading Mumbai—sans injured Yashasvi Jaiswal for the next Rajasthan clash—Thakur praised debutant spinner Himanshu Singh, eyeing seam-friendly SA pitches as his ticket back.

Rana, 23, solidified his claim with a career-best 4/39 at SCG in the third ODI vs Australia last week, dismantling the middle order on bouncy turf to bowl hosts out for 236 and secure India's consolation win—earning Gautam Gambhir's explicit backing as the ideal No. 8 seam all-rounder. Comparisons favour the Delhi speedster: 145 kmph pace, 5.82 ODI economy (vs Thakur's 6.23), superior strike rate (21.38 vs 29.85), and batting SR 126+ (vs 105). Social media erupted, with memes pitting "Lord Thakur" against "Gambhir's favourite", amplifying selection debates.

Also Read: BCCI Selector RP Singh Holds Lengthy Talk with Mohammed Shami after India Snub Controversy

As India ramps up for eight ODIs pre-2027 (vs Australia/SA/NZ), Thakur's audacious bid—two years out at age 36—tests Agarkar's youth focus against veteran nous, potentially igniting a fierce all-rounder race with Nitish Reddy in the mix.

Also Read: BCCI Selector RP Singh Holds Lengthy Talk with Mohammed Shami after India Snub Controversy