Former Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik and opener Aakash Chopra have slammed Indian team management and captain Shubman Gill, questioning them about the selection of all-rounder Shardul Thakur for the ongoing first Test against England in Leeds.
Despite being a member of the playing XI as an all-rounder, Shardul was unable to score runs at the batting position. Despite bowling well, he gave up 38 runs in 6 overs without taking a wicket.
According to Karthik, if the team management doesn't trust Shardul's bowling, there's no point in having him on the team.
"The Shardul Thakur decision that Team India's management needs to look at - If they are not going to trust his bowling, why are they playing him? That is definitely an issue. If you are not going to trust a bowler, why have you played him? I understand when you play four fast bowlers, you are not going to give equal opportunity for Shardul," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
"When he did bowl, he did not bowl very nicely, but to give six overs when you have bowled so much is not a great picture. I feel bad for Shardul, but I can understand what a Shubman is thinking. He can create more pressure on England when the other bowlers are bowling." he added.
Similar opinions were expressed by former India batter Aakash Chopra in his YouTube analysis, where he claimed that despite Shardul's selection by the team, they have not trusted him.
"I am thinking about Shardul Thakur's utilization. They have selected him, but haven't shown faith in him. Of course, he bowled a few overs and was very expensive, but then you didn't bowl him at all for long spells. All bowlers bowled 20-plus overs, but Shardul Thakur was in single digits," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
"The second new ball came, the first new ball came and went, the ball became old as well, but either it is underutilization of resources or the second thing could be that you don't have faith in him, and that is a bigger concern. Why did you play him if you don't have faith in him?" he added.
India finished day 2 on 90/2 with a lead of 96 runs after England made 465 in their first innings I response to India’s 471. Olli Pope with a century and Harry Brook with 99 starred for England, while Jasprit Bumrah took 5/83.
