Team India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up about how challenging it can be for players when they remain benched throughout a tour as well. He was last seen in action during the five-match away Test series in England, which ended in a 2-2 draw as well, with India clinching a thrilling six-run win in the final game at The Oval. He also opined on uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav being benched for the entire series.

In an interaction with RevSportz, Shardul Thakur said:  “On a few occasions, I was also in the same boat, being out and not getting enough games to show my potential. So yes, as a player, you go through a lot of emotions, and it’s not easy to sit out. At some point, you’ll feel bored and start questioning, ‘What am I doing here? I’m not getting a game.’”

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“But at the end of the day, there are two things, like I said before. First, not everyone is privileged enough to be in the Indian side; everyone will agree on that. And the second thing is, unfortunately or fortunately, the competition is so high in India. There are so many players, and only 11 of them play at the end of the day. Correct,” he said.

“So, sitting out, we need to understand that probably this is the best 11 that management is looking at, and you’ll have to repeatedly tell your mind this was not my game, that’s why I was not selected, and probably according to the pitch conditions or whatever atmospheric conditions, this is the best 11 that we could field for the day, and I’m just not part of it. But yes, I am fortunate enough to be touring England or Australia, or also when you’re playing in India, to be in the side, to be sharing the same dressing rooms and meals that the other guys are having,” Shardul Thakur concluded.