Shardul Thakur Gets Late Boost for 2nd Test as Gill Urged to Rely on Him for Wickets in Bumrah’s Absence
Sayuri YukiRahane reiterated that Shardul Thakur is a genuine wicket-taking option, a point he had also emphasized after the first Test, where Shubman Gill was criticised for underutilising him.
Ajinkya Rahane Backs Shardul Thakur Amid Criticism, Suggests Arshdeep as Bumrah’s Replacement
Team India’s fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur has come under fire after an underwhelming performance in the first Test against England at Headingley. With calls growing for his exclusion ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston, former India vice-captain and domestic teammate Ajinkya Rahane has come forward in his defence.
Rahane, speaking on his YouTube channel, urged head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to back Shardul, describing him as a “wicket-taker” despite his lack of control and high economy rate in the series opener. Shardul bowled only 6 overs in the first innings and 10 in the second, picking up two wickets but conceding runs at over 5 per over.
“I do not see too many changes,” Rahane said. “Shardul is a wicket-taker. He may go for runs sometimes, but he has that knack of breaking partnerships. If Bumrah doesn’t play, I would like to see Arshdeep Singh come in. He can swing the ball and bring a left-arm variation.”
Rahane also proposed situational changes based on pitch and weather conditions. “If there’s bounce and some grass on the wicket, continue with Prasidh Krishna. If it looks dry and the weather is hot, then I’d go with Kuldeep Yadav instead of Prasidh, alongside Ravindra Jadeja as the second spinner.”
If Bumrah is rested as part of workload management, Rahane suggested a pace attack featuring Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur, with either Kuldeep or Prasidh completing the bowling combination based on conditions.
“Shardul Thakur is your guy who can get you wickets”
Ajinkya Rahane has once again come out in support of Shardul Thakur, insisting the pace-bowling all-rounder remains a valuable wicket-taking asset for India despite a disappointing outing in the first Test at Headingley. Rahane, who had earlier pointed out that Shubman Gill underutilised Shardul with the ball, reiterated the need to manage his role better in the upcoming Edgbaston Test.
“I would like to see Shardul playing this Test because he is your guy who can get you wickets,” Rahane said. “So these three [pacers] and two spinners. If there is good bounce and movement then back Prasidh Krishna. He will be the right guy on a seaming wicket.”
Despite Rahane’s backing, Shardul’s spot in the XI remains uncertain. He bowled just 16 overs in total in Leeds and leaked runs at over five per over. With the bat, he registered two single-digit scores, offering little to India’s struggling lower middle order.
As a result, it is highly likely that India will opt for Nitish Kumar Reddy, the promising all-rounder who made his debut during the Australia tour last year. Reddy’s inclusion would bolster India’s lower-order batting, an area that failed to contribute meaningfully in the opening Test defeat.
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