Why is Shardul Thakur's not playing ICC World Cup 2023, match 21 against New Zealand?

In a plot twist, India decided to bench Shardul Thakur for the top-of-the-table showdown against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. India and New Zealand are the two sides in the ten-team competition who are yet to suffer a defeat thus far.

India skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first after winning the toss, making this the two champions' fifth consecutive match in which they will chase.  At the toss, Rohit said that Hardik Pandya, who is injured, and Thakur would not be playing in the blockbuster clash. They are being replaced, though, by Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav, who are playing their first game in the ongoing event.

Thakur was included in the lineup ahead of Shami in India’s last three games. However, in India’s opening match against Australia, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was chosen over both Shami and Thakur given the spinning nature of the Chennai stadium. Notably, in three games, Thakur has picked up two wickets, conceding 102 runs at an economy rate of 6.00. 

Furthermore, Shami might be included in the playing XI, given his experience and current form. It is worth mentioning his performance in the home ODI series against Australia ahead of the ODI World Cup. The 33-year-old claimed a five-wicket haul in the opening ODI in Mohali which India won by five wickets and went on to win the Player of the Match.

India eye for second ODI World Cup win against New Zealand

India and New Zealand will be striving for the top spot, both having won all four games so far in the competition. The Kiwis have had an upper hand over the two-time champions in the ODI World Cup, having a record of winning five out of eight games. Moreover, the BlackCaps also crushed India’s dream of winning the World Cup for the third time as they knocked them out in the semi-final of the 2019 edition.