Mumbai: Indian all-rounder and current captain of Mumbai Shardul Thakur Claimed he was “underutilized” during last year’s five-Test series in England. Playing under new Test captain Shubman Gill and guided by the head coach Gautam GambhirIndia drew 2-2 in the five Test matches. Thakur, who took 33 Test wickets in 13 Tests at 31.03, played only two Tests in the series, in which he took two wickets at 72.00 with an economy rate of 5.33. In two Tests, Thakur conceded 144 runs in 27 balls. Thakur bowled just six overs in the first innings of the first Test at Leeds, conceding 38 runs without taking a wicket while India bowled 100.4 overs. In the second innings, he took 2 for 51 in 10 overs while India posted 82 overs. India lost that Test by 5 wickets while England scored 465 and 373 runs by 5 wickets respectively. Thakur was recalled for the fourth Test in Manchester, where he conceded 0-55 in 11 overs as England accumulated 669 runs in the first innings. The game ended in a draw. Importantly, in all three situations, Thakur bowled the least number of deliveries among all regular Indian bowlers. “After the 2024-25 season, which is the season I went through (he took 35 wickets in 9 games at 22.62), I think I can play a few more games and really make a difference. When I played in England, I was not utilized properly in terms of bowling. In terms of batting, yes, I played a loose ball in Leeds (he was 1 and 4 out). But in Manchester I batted beautifully (he scored 41) and I would say the first innings was cloudy and the ball was swinging and had a weird bounce of a length. So I survived that spell. India still posted a very strong total (358) in the first innings. Then the pitch became even and then we were able to save the game as well. But if I had not finished that innings when the second new ball arrived, the outcome might have been different as well,” Thakur told a group of reporters on the sidelines of the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ‘2026-27 Season Launch’ at MCA’s BKC facility on Wednesday. Shardul, 34, denied the fact that he was “underrated” due to some “calculation errors” during the England series, saying: “I would say I was underrated and it was because of being bowled at the wrong stage. So what I’m saying is there are some calculation errors. “ Has “Palghar Express” spoken to the captain to clarify the situation regarding him? “No, I mean, usually you don’t say a word to the captain or the coach because all the attention is on the game. Whenever you are asked to do something, all you think about is, okay, now is my chance and I want to contribute to the team. While doing that, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t happen,” Thakur replied. Unfortunately, even after taking the wicket, he was taken out of the attack Ben Duckett and Harry Brooke In the 55th over of the Leeds Test, where England managed to chase down 373 runs while conceding only 5 wickets, Thakur said, “So, if you see that in Leeds, I got those two back-to-back wickets and India got back into the game but then I was stopped again. So that’s where I can bowl longer and maybe I get another wicket and then other bowlers come in and we can win that game as well.” Again, ifs and buts.“ “My comments are not going to change the scenario and the outcome of that game. But, yes, I mean, you don’t usually have those kinds of conversations with the captain and everyone. You basically accept whatever is asked of you,” Thakur said. During last year’s Test series in England, Thakur had hinted at a press conference that he was unhappy with the fact that he was bowling far less than he wanted. However, despite Thakur’s traumatic experience last time playing for the national team, he still hopes to get a chance to play for India again in the future. “So, it’s not that I didn’t contribute anything the last time I played for India. But, yes, I think I should get more opportunities. But that’s okay. Like I said, hope is still there. In the near future, if they invite me to play for India again, I will be ready,” he said.
