Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned Team India for underutilising Shardul Thakur in England’s first innings of the first Test as well. He wondered why the seam-bowling all-rounder was named in the playing XI when the team didn’t have enough faith in him as well. However, Thakur registered figures of 0/38 in 6 overs as India bowled England out for 465 in their first innings on Day 3 (Sunday, June 22) in Leeds as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I am thinking about Shardul Thakur’s utilization. They have selected him, but haven’t shown faith in him. Of course, he bowled a few overs and was very expensive, but then you didn’t bowl him at all for long spells. All bowlers bowled 20-plus overs, but Shardul Thakur was in single digits. The second new ball came, the first new ball came and went, the ball became old as well, but either it is underutilization of resources or the second thing could be that you don’t have faith in him, and that is a bigger concern. Why did you play him if you don’t have faith in him?”
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However, Aakash Chopra admitted that Shardul Thakur was in his playing XI as well, but added that the Indian team doesn’t seem to have enough confidence in him as well.
“I felt he should have been played. I too had picked him in the XI, but if the Indian team feels that they don’t have that much confidence in his bowling, and they have to bat him at No. 8 only, so they don’t have that much confidence there also, then they shouldn’t play him. Shardul Thakur not being used properly is not a good story at all,” he said.
“You are filling a place by playing him, but he cannot be a placeholder. Eventually, you want him to come and contribute. He got out in batting, which is okay, although from 430/3 to 471 all out, it was like a major collapse in that respect. I think this is the lowest total in the history of Test cricket when three people have scored centuries,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
