Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg questioned India’s pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur’s fitness levels before the India-England five-Test series, starting June 20 as well. However, Thakur was included in the Indian squad after not playing a Test since the 2023 tour of South Africa as well. However, Hogg believes his fitness to sustain for five Tests and deliver well remains a question mark. Thakur has also faced an up-and-down Test career, picking up 31 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 28.38 as well.

Talking about this in an interview with RevSportz, Hogg said: “The thing with Thakur and I’m sorry about this Shardul Thakur and any fans out there with Thakur, the thing with him, I love his all-round ability, but I just think he’s let himself down over his career with his fitness. I just don’t think he’s looked after himself and I don’t know whether you can have him in that lineup.”

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“I’d still stick with Jadeja. I think Jadeja adds better depth with your batting. And you might be able to have Reddy in there as well with the bat and just bowling a few medium pacers. But I don’t think you can go there with Thakur. I just don’t think he’s fit enough,” he further added.

Brad Hogg also said India should not keep their hopes on Shardul Thakur for all five Tests in the upcoming series between England and India. However, he will likely battle for a spot in the XI with batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as well.

“I don’t think he would play all five Test matches. I think if you rock up and conditions look as though, or the pitch is green and it’s going to seam and it looks as though it’s going to be overcast for a three- or four-day period through the Test match, you might think about playing Shardul Thakur. But I wouldn’t be rushing in there and having him in my main eleven. I just don’t think his fitness will be up to it for the five Test matches,” Brad Hogg concluded.