‘I wasn’t properly utilised’: Shardul Thakur’s explosive claim on Shubman Gill’s tour of England

Indian captain Shubman Gill with Shardul Thakur (PTI Photo) Mumbai: Indian all-rounder and current Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur claimed he was “underutilized” in the five-Test series in England last year. Playing under new Test captain Shubman Gill and led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, India drew the five-Test series 2–2. Thakur, who took 33 Test wickets in 13 Tests at 31.03, played in only two Tests in the series in which he took two wickets at 72.00, at an economy rate of 5.33. In the two Tests, Thakur bowled 27 overs while conceding 144 runs. Thakur bowled just six overs in the first innings of the first Test at Leeds in which he conceded 38 runs without a wicket as India bowled out 100.4 overs. In the second innings, he took two for 51 in 10 overs as India bowled out 82 overs. India lost that Test by five wickets as England made 465 and 373 for five. Thakur, who was recalled for the fourth Test in Manchester, took 0-55 in 11 overs as England piled up 669 in the first innings. The match ended in a draw. Interestingly, on all three occasions, Thakur bowled the least number of bowlers of any regular Indian bowler. “After 2024-25, which is the season I had (35 wickets in nine games at 22.62), I think I could have played a few more games and literally made a difference. When I played in England, I wasn’t used properly in the bowling. In batting, yes, it was my fault that I played the wrong bat in Manchester (I was dismissed with the bat and got out, I4). 41 in the first innings), I’d say it was overcast, the ball was swinging and there was one length where it bounced weirdly, so I survived that spell and the pitch leveled off in the first innings and then we were able to save the game, but if I hadn’t, reporters on the sidelines of the Mumbai Cricket Association’s 2026-27 season opener at the BKC MCA facility. The 34-year-old Shardul lamented the fact that he was “underbowled” in the England series due to some “miscalculation”, saying: “I would say I was underbowled and it was about being bowled at the wrong stages. So there was some miscalculation I would say.” Did ‘Palghar Express’ speak to the captain to clarify the situation? “No, I mean, you don’t usually talk to the captain or the coach because all the focus is on the game. Whenever someone asks you to do something, all you think about is, okay, now’s my chance and I want to deliver for the team. And sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t,” Thakur replied. Tagore lamented the fact that he was dropped from the attack even after taking the wickets of Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in the 55th over of the Leeds Test as England successfully chased down 373 for the loss of just five wickets, saying: “So if you see that in Leeds, I got those two wickets back-to-back and India could have been back in the game, but then I could have been in the game a bit longer.” they would have got another wicket and then the other bowlers would have chipped in and we could have won the game too, so again ifs and buts.’ “My comments are not going to change the script of that game and the outcome of that game. But yeah, I think you don’t end up having these kinds of conversations usually with the captain and stuff. You basically take whatever is asked of you,” Thakur said. During one of his press conferences in England during the Test series last year, Thakur indicated that he was unhappy at being bowled far less than he would have liked. However, despite his bitter experience of last playing for the country, Thakur hopes to get a chance to play for India again in the future. “So it’s not like I didn’t contribute the last time I played for India. But yes, I think I deserve a few more opportunities. But that’s okay. Like I said, there’s still hope. And if I’m ever asked to play for India again in the near future, I’d be ready,” he said.