Shardul Thakur in Leeds Test: Misfiring or mismanaged? Numbers say it all
The third Test between India and England at Leeds produced several talking points, but one that has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike is the puzzling underutilisation of Shardul Thakur in England's first innings. Despite being a seasoned contributor in overseas Tests, Thakur bowled just six overs — split across two short spells — out of India's 100.4 overs in the first innings.advertisementShardul Thakur, often seen as India's fourth seamer in overseas conditions, was barely used by captain Shubman Gill in a situation that arguably called for more variety and control in the bowling attack. While Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj struggled to make early inroads, Thakur's role remained strangely limited. His bowling share in that innings was a mere 6 percent — a steep drop from his historical average.Thakur's Test record suggests he's more than capable of holding his own. In the memorable 2021 Brisbane Test against Australia, Thakur bowled 24 overs in a single innings — the most in his Test career — and played a vital role in India's historic win at the Gabba. Across his Test career prior to the Leeds match, he averaged around 13 overs per innings, which is considered a healthy contribution for a third or fourth seamer, especially on foreign soil.
Shardul Thakur's numbers
advertisementWhat Do the Numbers Say?
Before the Leeds Test, Thakur had played 11 Tests, delivering 16 percent of India's total overs in those games — a respectable share, given that he is rarely India's frontline fast bowler. In those matches, Indian bowlers took a total of 187 wickets, of which Thakur claimed 31, contributing to 17 percent of the total dismissals — an impressive figure for someone frequently deployed as a supporting bowler.Contrast that with the Leeds Test: Thakur bowled just 6 overs in the first innings, making up only 6 percent of India's total deliveries. This, despite the evident lack of penetration from the main pace attack, has raised questions about the tactical decisions on the field. With Siraj and Krishna not finding their rhythm, many believed Thakur's controlled seam bowling and knack for picking up key wickets could have been better utilised.Shardul''s redemption in 2nd inningsIn the second innings, Gill seemingly corrected course. Thakur was given a longer spell and made a noticeable impact. He bowled 10 overs, finishing with figures of 2/51, and claimed the key wickets of Ben Duckett (149) and Harry Brook (golden duck), sparking hopes of an Indian comeback. His bowling share in the second innings rose to 12.19 percent of the 82 overs bowled — closer to his typical involvement.advertisementIndia head coach Gautam Gambhir was also asked about Shardul's underutilisation in the game, and he revealed that captain Shubman Gill bowled Jadeja more in the first innings as he gave good control, allowing rotation of the three seamers from the other end."Sometimes captain goes with his instincts and Ravindra Jadeja gave us control in the first innings that was important, and we could rotate our three pacers at the other end. We know what is Shardul's quality and that is why he is playing for India and is in the dressing room. Just because he is the fourth seamer does not necessarily mean that he has to be brought ahead of a spinner. A captain went by his instinct and depending on surface we were playing," said Gambhir in the post-match press conference.Shardul Thakur has consistently shown that he can contribute with the ball when trusted with responsibility. While his role in the Leeds Test's first innings was unusually limited, his performance in the second innings reaffirmed his value to the Indian team — especially in overseas conditions where balance and adaptability in the bowling lineup are crucial.Whether the initial oversight was a tactical misstep or a calculated gamble that didn't pay off remains debatable. But one thing is clear: Shardul Thakur's case at Leeds serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most effective tools are the ones left in the shed.- EndsMust Watch
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