‘If you don’t trust a bowler, why did you play him?’ – Dinesh Karthik questions inclusion of Shardul Thakur

However, former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik was dissatisfied with how skipper Shubman Gill handled Shardul’s bowling ability in England’s first innings. The Mumbai all-rounder bowled only six overs and let up 38 runs without taking a wicket. An Indian bowler bowled the second fewest overs in the first innings, with 20. Prasidh Krishna took three wickets and conceded 128 runs.

Shardul Thakur was named to India’s playing XI for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’s opening Test as a seam bowling all-rounder. He was chosen over Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had taken his spot and played all five Border-Gavaskar games earlier this year.

Dinesh Karthik stated that having Shardul on the team is pointless if the management does not believe in his bowling ability.

However, the cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged that Shardul was unable to impose pressure on the English batters, which is why he believed Shubman did not employ him extensively with the ball.

“The Shardul Thakur decision is something Team India’s management should consider: if they don’t trust his bowling, why are they playing him? That is certainly a concern. If you don’t trust a bowler, why did you play him? I understand that if you play four quick bowlers, Shardul will not be given an equal opportunity,” said Karthik.

“When he did bowl, he did not bowl very well, but giving six overs after bowling so much is not a good picture. I feel horrible for Shardul, but I understand how a Shubman thinks. He can put more pressure on England when the other bowlers are bowling,” he explained.

They have chosen him but haven’t showed faith in him. Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra mirrored Karthik’s sentiments, slamming Indian team management for not giving the 33-year-old a longer run. The former India opener believes that either the team management underutilised him or lacked faith in his ability.

“I’m thinking about Shardul Thakur’s use. They chose him but have not demonstrated faith in him. Of course, he bowled a few overs and was very expensive, but you didn’t bowl him at all for a long time. “All bowlers bowled 20 or more overs, but Shardul Thakur was in the single digits,” Chopra stated in a video broadcast on his official YouTube page.

“The second new ball arrived, the first new ball came and went, and the ball turned old as well, but either it is underutilisation of resources, or you don’t have faith in him, which is a worse issue. Why did you play him if you didn’t believe in him?” he continued.