“I haven’t had any communication yet" - Shardul Thakur on not being selected for the squad for Border-Gavaskar series
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was overlooked by the selection committee for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series, as emerging players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy were preferred instead. The Mumbai player was a certified selection in India's overseas tours in the past, providing balance and depth as a candidate who could bat and also don the role of the fourth seamer.
Thakur was in Team India's plans during the start of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. He was part of the tours to the West Indies and South Africa, but an injury following the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) hampered his momentum. The all-rounder underwent surgery in London in June and recently made his return through the Irani Cup in Lucknow.
He has made a solid start to the Ranji Trophy campaign as well. With three wickets in each of the first two matches against Baroda and Maharashtra, the player also chipped in with a half-century in the draw against Tripura.
Right after being subbed for the Australia tour, Thakur has made a statement with seven wickets in the ongoing clash 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 presence of a fast-bowling all-rounder has proven to be essential in overseas conditions. Thakur has chipped in with a few match-winning contributions in recent times, leading to head coach Gautam Gambhir being quizzed over his omission.
“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 named among Mumbai's probables for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scheduled to begin from November 23 onwards.
"In the past three or four matches, I have been bowling in full rhythm" - Shardul Thakur
The 33-year-old needs to make a massive statement to convince the selectors that he still has a lot to offer. A lot will hinge on how Nitish Kumar Reddy will fare in Australia. The Men in Blue are not blessed with depth in this particular department, as Hardik Pandya is also not an option 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 firm favorites to secure the win over Services. The defending champions have been handed a target of just 135 in the final innings. They finished Day 3 on 24-1.