The delayed deployment of Shardul Thakur with the ball, however, attracted a lot of attention, as former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also noted. India’s trip of England began badly when they lost the first Test match at Headingley, Leeds, by five wickets. Despite strong batting displays, the visitors lost because of poor fielding and lacklustre bowling selections.
India appeared to be in a strong position after scoring 471 in the first innings. However, the home team won the game due to a lacklustre showing with the ball and numerous lower-order failures. Ashwin criticised newly appointed captain Shubman Gill for giving the ball to Shardul only in the 40th over of England’s opening innings, long after their hitters, notably Joe Root, had taken their places.
Shardul Thakur was added to the team, but you didn’t give him a ball during the first forty overs.
Joe Root was batting as well. Additionally, Shardul’s matchup with Joe Root is quite good. Therefore, I honestly rate Shardul Thakur as a cricket player if his role is not diminished. He has captured Harry Brook and Ben Duckett. He has the ability to create things. But he needs to utilise them when he has to. But I don’t think he’s really making any sense if this is how he’s going to be used. Because in order for him to have an impact, he must be given the ball. In the first forty overs, he didn’t bowl much,” Ashwin noted in his YouTube analysis.
Thakur was removed early in the 19th over of the second innings, however he only bowled 10 overs this time. Even though he took two wickets, his role was still restricted because many believed they were fortunate breakthroughs. The larger problem of India’s underutilisation of a wicket-taker was brought to light by Ashwin.
Additionally, he didn’t bowl much in the second innings. Much more than the first innings, of course. Therefore, his function was quite restricted, and I believe it is unfair to argue about what he did,” Ashwin continued.
Rahane is a wicket-taker who can swing the ball in both directions.
Ajinkya Rahane, the former vice-captain of India, expressed similar worries and emphasised that, given India’s difficulties in taking wickets early, Shardul ought to have entered as a first-change or possibly a new-ball bowler.
“I think the role of an all-rounder is crucial. Shardul Thakur is a seasoned athlete who has excelled in international Test cricket. I’d want to see Shardul do more overs. It would be fantastic if the Indian team could make better use of Shardul Thakur. Based on my observations, he is a wicket-taker who can swing the ball in both directions. Rahane stated on his YouTube channel that Shardul could swing it either way if he could bowl the first change or even if he were given the new ball.
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