India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was excluded from the selection for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series, with emerging players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy being favoured instead.
The Mumbai cricketer had been a regular in India’s overseas tours in the past, providing crucial balance and depth as a batting all-rounder who could also serve as the fourth seamer. Thakur had been part of India’s plans at the start of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
He featured in tours to the West Indies and South Africa but struggled with injury after the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), which disrupted his momentum. Following surgery in London in June, Thakur made his return in the Irani Cup in Lucknow.
He has made an impressive start to his Ranji Trophy campaign, taking three wickets in each of the first two matches against Baroda and Maharashtra, and contributing a half-century in the draw against Tripura.
Immediately after being dropped from the Australia tour, Thakur made an impact by taking seven wickets in the current match against Services in New Delhi.
“I haven’t had any communication yet. I have just returned from surgery, so it’s obvious that’s the reason I am not in the team at the moment,” Thakur told reporters (via the Indian Express).
“However, my fitness is in great shape now, and since the Australia tour is a long one, opportunities can come anytime. Following that, the England team is also coming to India for white-ball matches, then there’s the Champions Trophy, so there’s a lot of cricket ahead. So, there will surely be chances somewhere down the line,” he added.
The role of a fast-bowling all-rounder has proven crucial in overseas conditions. Thakur has made several match-winning contributions recently, prompting questions for head coach Gautam Gambhir regarding his exclusion.
“The decision to pick Reddy (Nitish) ahead of Shardul is also about moving forward,” Gambhir had said during the press conference prior to the team’s departure to Australia.
The all-rounder was recently included in Mumbai’s list of probables for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is set to start on November 23.
“In the last three or four matches, I’ve been bowling with full rhythm”- Shardul Thakur
The 33-year-old must make a strong impression to convince the selectors that he still has much to contribute. Much will depend on how Nitish Kumar Reddy performs in Australia. The Indian team lacks depth in this area, especially with Hardik Pandya also unavailable for the format.
“In the initial one or two matches, I had a bit of hesitation while starting, but as I kept playing matches post-surgery, my confidence gradually developed. Now, I have achieved 100 per cent fitness, and it’s reflected in my bowling as well. In the past three or four matches, I have been bowling in full rhythm,” Thakur said in the same interview.
Mumbai are strong favorites to clinch victory against Services. The defending champions need just 135 runs to win in their final innings and ended Day 3 with a score of 24-1.
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