India’s team management is under fire after former cricketers and analysts questioned the inclusion and underutilization of Shardul Thakur in the first Test against England at Headingley. Despite being picked as a bowling all-rounder, Thakur bowled just six overs in the first innings and ten in the second, returning 2 wickets for 90 runs across both innings.
Manjrekar, Karthik, Chopra Lead Criticism
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar didn’t mince words, saying, “I’m sorry, but Shardul Thakur has to go out.” He urged Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir to adopt the kind of “common sense” selection strategy that England captain Ben Stokes has championed—prioritizing quality over balance.
“Pick your best bowlers, irrespective of conditions. Even in England, spin can win you games,” Manjrekar said, advocating for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the next Test.
Dinesh Karthik and Aakash Chopra Echo Concerns
Both Dinesh Karthik and Aakash Chopra questioned why Thakur was selected if the team didn’t trust him to bowl meaningful spells. Karthik noted that Thakur was introduced after the 40-over mark in the first innings, calling it a “waste of resources”.
Chopra added, “If you don’t have faith in him, why play him at all?”—highlighting that all other bowlers delivered 20+ overs while Thakur remained underused.
Gambhir Defends the Call
Head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the decision, stating that Thakur was picked as a bowling all-rounder, not a frontline seamer. He explained that Ravindra Jadeja’s control on a dry pitch led to Thakur being used sparingly, though he did provide two key breakthroughs in the second innings.
What’s Next?
With India trailing 0–1 in the five-match series, pressure is mounting ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston on July 2. Experts are calling for Kuldeep Yadav’s return and a rethink of India’s bowling strategy—one that balances instinct with tactical clarity.
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