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"If Given The New Ball...," Rahane Explains How India Should Use Shardul In England Tests

Debashis Sarangi

Rahane has a special advice for India [Source: @AvengerReturns, @mufaddal_vohra/X]Rahane has a special advice for India [Source: @AvengerReturns, @mufaddal_vohra/X]

Veteran cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has urged the Indian think tank to use Shardul Thakur in a more appropriate way instead of dropping him for the second Test against England. Hailed for his all-round attributes, Thakur had an abysmal start to the England Tests, recording modest numbers with bat and ball in the opening encounter at Headingley. 

Rahane Asks India To Use Shardul's Swing Bowling Skills

Shardul Thakur generally opens the bowling for Mumbai in the domestic circuit. The right-arm pacer can swing the ball both ways, which India should capitalise on, according to Ajinkya Rahane. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Mumbai batter reckoned that India should hand the new ball to Shardul instead of using him as a filler in their star-studded lineup. 

The stylish right-hander thinks India can maximise Thakur's potential as a bowler only by allowing him to operate with the new ball. 

“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, as quoted by Express Sports. 

Rahane, who led India to a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in 2021, further explained the behaviour of the Duke's ball, highlighting how Shardul's bowling promotion over Siraj could prove advantageous for the visiting side. 

“With the duke ball, it generally starts to behave after 10 or 12 overs. If Shardul can start the bowling with Bumrah and Siraj can come in as one change, that will be great. I would like to see Shardul bowling more overs. Give him that freedom, he will get you more wickets,” Rahane added.

Shardul looked lacklustre with the ball, managing only two wickets for 89 runs at a mediocre economy of 5.56 in the Leeds Test. The all-rounder received massive backlash for his underperformance, but with Jasprit Bumrah being doubtful for the second Test, the Indian think tank might persist with him for the next game.