Ajinkya Rahane backs Shardul Thakur to bowl more overs after Headingley loss against England

India’s experienced batter Ajinkya Rahane wants to see Shardul Thakur bowl more overs after the visitors suffered a five-wicket loss against England at Leeds, Headingley. Thakur was preferred ahead of Nitish Kumar Reddy as a seam bowling all-rounder despite the latter impressing on the Australian tour.

The Mumbai all-rounder was dismissed after scoring a single run when he went for a booming drive but could only find an outside edge. The right-hander could only manage four runs in the second essay.

Surprisingly, Gill gave only six overs to Thakur, in which he conceded 38 runs and went wicketless in England’s first innings. The right-arm medium pacer picked two wickets in the second essay but he was expensive once again.

Rahane wants Thakur to open the innings with Jasprit Bumrah and urged Shubman Gill to use Mohammed Siraj as the first change.

“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 said on his YouTube channel.

“I feel an all-rounder’s role is very important. Shardul Thakur has been an experienced player and has done well in Test cricket overseas. 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,” he added.

Thakur could not deliver in the opening Test and thus his place is under the scrutiny. The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.