India vs England: Ashwin questions Shardul's limited role with the ball

Scrutiny has surrounded pace all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his dismal returns in the opening India vs England Test at Headingley. Playing ahead of the young Nitish Kumar Reddy as India's first-choice all-rounder, Thakur failed to show up in either department. The pacer picked up two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the final innings in Leeds. However, the moment arrived after Thakur had already proved expensive with the ball, and India stood out of the contest. Now, with calls for dropping him from the combination for the second Test at Edgbaston, Ravi Ashwin has defended Shardul Thakur.

India didn't utilise Shardul Thakur well in the first India vs England Test, says Ashwin

India's bowling rotation at Headingley on Day 2 of the first India vs England match had the experts scratching their heads. Jasprit Bumrah scalped an early wicket, sending back Zak Crawley in the first over of the innings. However, Mohammed Siraj and later Prasidh Krishna could not impose similar pressure from the other end. Despite Siraj and Krishna looking toothless, Shubman Gill, India's new Test captain, waited until the 40th over to introduce Shardul Thakur into the attack. However, his introduction, no matter how late, didn't aid India at all.

The first spell of Shardul Thakur lasted just three overs, expensive and ineffective, and he was promptly taken out of the attack. He reappeared 22 overs later, this time from the other end, and while he looked a bit more controlled, he still posed little threat to the batters. The way Shubman Gill deployed him suggested that the team had little faith in Shardul's ability to break through. Figures of 6 overs for 38 runs are simply not acceptable for a fourth seamer when the opposition racks up 465.

His showing in the second innings wasn't much better either. Though he was introduced earlier, this time in the 19th over, he bowled only 10 overs, even as India desperately searched for wickets on Day 5. Now, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in, saying Shardul should have been brought on when Joe Root was at the crease.

"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," Ashwin said.

Ashwin also emphasised that Shardul’s performance needs to be judged in the context of how he was used. The former spinner opined that criticism isn't entirely fair when a player isn’t utilised properly. According to Ashwin, Shardul didn’t get a fair chance to make an impact in the first India vs England match, where the visitors, despite strong batting efforts in both innings, succumbed to a five-wicket defeat.

"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 said.

With the second Test in Birmingham on the horizon, the spot of Shardul Thakur in the playing XI appears to be in doubt, especially if India opts for a more specialist bowler. Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist spinner, is currently the most likely candidate to replace him. Another factor that could influence the team combination is the availability if Jasprit Bumrah. Reports suggest that the Edgbaston Test could be the first of the two Tests that Bumrah is confirmed to miss in the series due to workload management.