India will play England on September 30 in their first warm-up match in Guwahati.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa raised concerns over the fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur's place in the team and his role in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
However, Uthappa admitted that Shardul has the ability to take crucial wickets, but he has raised a valid concern about his economy rate. He pointed out that Shardul, while being a wicket-taking bowler, leaks a lot of runs, and it might hurt Team India at the ODI World Cup 2023.
Well, Shardul's multi-faceted skills could make him a valuable asset for India, and even though there's speculation that he might replace either Mohammed Siraj or Mohammed Shami in the playing XI during the World Cup 2023, Uthappa feels it can be a risky move for the hosts.
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Robin Uthappa said on his YouTube channel: “Shardul Thakur could be a concern for Team India. Yes, he picks up wickets and is a high-quality bowler, but he leaks a lot of runs. He can be very expensive. That's something that he will have to pay attention to.”
Uthappa signed off by saying, “He is someone who is always going to take wickets, but when he doesn't take wickets, he ends up looking a little expensive. In CSK, we used to fondly call him the golden arm. I am certain that his role will be very similar for the Indian team.”
He welcomed Indian selectors’ decision to include R Ashwin to India's 2023 World Cup squad as Akshar Patel’s replacement and claimed that the veteran off-spinner can be a big threat.