Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has raised serious concerns about the selection of Shardul Thakur in the playing XI for the ongoing fourth Test between India and England in Manchester.
With all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out due to injury, Thakur was brought in at No. 7. However, Sidhu questioned the purpose of his inclusion, pointing out that India has not shown much faith in Shardul’s bowling abilities.
Referring to a 2019 controversy involving Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravindra Jadeja, Sidhu made a similar remark on his YouTube channel, saying, “One area of problem, even if Shardul makes a fifty, at that number eight position, bits-and-pieces cricketers do well in one-day cricket, but in Test cricket, you always need specialists.”
He further added, “If you could bring Shardul the bowler at number eight, then I would agree this is the right selection. You do not bowl him enough and then in order to increase the batting you compromise with your bowling.”
Sidhu also pointed out that Thakur’s inclusion gives negligible boost to the batting while weakening the bowling. He said, “What is the purpose here? The guy at number eight, do you want him to give you five wickets or batting depth?”
Sidhu concluded, “If seven can’t do it, eight also won’t. I have been repeating this point time and again. I feel this is again a compromise, and I feel it will not go in favour of India.”
Thakur has so far scored 197 runs* and taken 12 wickets in six Tests in England at an average of 38.30.
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