Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds
Five runs in two innings, just six overs in the first innings and 10 overs in the second with two wickets – that was Shardul Thakur’s contribution upon his return to India Test XI since December 2023. Despite decent cloud cover and windy conditions, Thakur wasn’t used much with the ball in the first innings. And when required to contribute runs with the bat, the Mumbai man disappointed big time, failing to either arrest the lower-order collapse or score brisk runs.
When Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struggled to get going in the first innings, captain Shubman Gill kept on ignoring the option of Thakur with the ball and rather went with Ravindra Jadeja amid conditions favourable for swing bowlers, which Thakur is. He brought India back into the game in second innings by dismissing Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in successive innings, the team would ponder on whether to bring a specialist in that number eight role, which Nitish Kumar Reddy played with aplomb in Australia. Kuldeep Yadav, could be a decent wicket-taking option.
“Shardul was used a little less, but the reason was probably that [Ravindra] Jadeja bowled really well, so we thought that Jadeja will give us control,” Gambhir said. ” Shardul got us two important wickets. So I’m not going to sit here and say that this guy didn’t bowl well or that guy bowled well. Shardul gave us two important wickets, which got us back in the game. I think we just got to be more consistent. That is what is more important, and these boys will learn.”
On Day 2, after India were bowled out, the visitors bowled 49 overs and Thakur’s first over came in the 40th of the innings. He bowled three and conceded 23 runs. On Day 3, Thakur bowled another three of the 51.4 overs, giving away 15 runs. Thakur made his case stronger by performing in the Ranji Trophy as he scalped 35 wickets for Mumbai. However, he took the new ball for Mumbai and bagged the bulk of his wickets with the new red cherry. He showed his knack of picking wickets but his usage was something which could have been better.
If India are going to use Thakur in a bits and pieces manner, then why not opt for a better batter in Nitish, who can chip in with a few overs if required, or either go for a pure wicket-taker in Kuldeep Yadav, considering the struggles of English batters against wrist spinners? If Thakur is used sparingly, and with him not contributing much with the bat, India would be better off with a specialist at number eight – be it a batter or bowler.
Nitish, who was exceptional in his debut Test series in Australia, scored 298 runs at an impressive average of 37.25 in nine innings, including a century, mostly batting at number seven or eight. There were multiple occasions where the Andhra all-rounder revived India from a tricky situation. He also bagged five wickets despite not many overs with the ball in the BGT.
Kuldeep, who has been time and again left out of the Indian Test XI, could be another option if India go in search of all 20 wickets in both the innings. Kuldeep has 56 wickets in 13 Tests at 22.16 and deserves a shot in the XI, especially with Ravindra Jadeja also struggling for wickets with only a scalp to his name in Headingley.
While Thakur was brought into the playing XI due to his better ability with the ball, him not getting many overs, could force the team management to bring in a different element at Edgbaston for the second Test.