'You have taken Shardul Thakur in the team and didn’t give him a ball in the first 40 overs' - R Ashwin criticizes Shubman Gill's decision

India's tour of England got off to a poor start with a five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Despite powerful batting performances, the visitors were at the receiving end due to underwhelming bowling choices and poor fielding. However, one decision that grabbed massive attention was the delayed use of Shardul Thakur with the ball, with former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also pointing out.

India posted 471 in the first innings and looked in good position. However, repeated lower-order collapses and an underwhelming performance with the ball saw the home team take the game away. Newly appointed captain Shubman Gill, who handed the ball to Shardul only in the 40th over of England’s first innings, well after their batters, including Joe Root, had settled in, triggered criticism from Ashwin.

“You have taken Shardul Thakur in the team and didn’t give him a ball in the first 40 overs. And Joe Root was batting. And Shardul has a very decent match-up against Joe Root. So, if Shardul Thakur’s role is not less, then I genuinely rate Shardul as a cricketer. He has caught Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. He can make things happen. But he has to use them at the right time. But if this is going to be the way he is going to be used, I don’t think he is really making any sense. Because he has to be given the ball for him to make a difference. He didn’t bowl that much in the first 40 overs,” Ashwin analyzed on his YouTube channel.

In the second innings, Thakur was brought earlier, in the 19th over—but again bowled just 10 overs. Despite picking up two wickets, many thought those were lucky breakthroughs, and his role remained limited. Ashwin pointed out the bigger issue of India’s underutilization of a wicket-taker.

“He didn’t bowl that much in the second innings either. Obviously, much more than the first innings. So, his role was very limited and I think it is very unfair to raise an argument on what he did,” Ashwin added.

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He can swing the ball both ways and is a wicket-taker: Rahane

Former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane also raised the same concerns and stressed that Shardul should have come as a first-change or even a new-ball bowler, considering India’s struggles to take wickets early.

“I feel an all-rounder’s role is very important. Shardul Thakur has been an experienced player and has done well in Test cricket overseas. I want to see more overs from Shardul. If the Indian team can use Shardul Thakur in a better way, that will be great. Whatever I have seen with him, he can swing the ball both ways and is a wicket-taker. If Shardul can bowl the first change or even given the new ball he can swing it both ways,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.