India’s decision to promote Shardul Thakur ahead of Washington Sundar during the fourth Test against England has sparked significant debate. The move, made after Rishabh Pant retired hurt, was a surprising one, especially given Sundar’s solid batting form earlier in the series.
Pant’s injury, caused by a full toss from Chris Woakes, left India at a precarious 235 for 4. In a tactical reshuffle, Shardul Thakur, not Sundar, was sent in to bat, a decision that caught the attention of commentators and former players alike. Dinesh Karthik, speaking during the broadcast, expressed his surprise at the move. “I was extremely surprised,” Karthik said. “Washington has shown real composure with the bat in this series and before. He’s someone who thrives with recognised batters around him.”
Former cricketers, including Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri, also questioned the decision. Ponting pointed out the stark difference in their batting averages—Sundar averaging nearly 39 in Test cricket compared to Thakur’s 17. “Looking at the numbers, Washington averages nearly 39 in Test cricket, and Shardul is down at 17. And he’s not being sent out,” Ponting remarked. Shastri also expressed surprise, highlighting that Sundar’s composure made him the ideal candidate for the role.
Thakur, known for his resilience and often seen as a gutsy cricketer, managed to remain not out, finishing Day 1 on 19 off 36 balls. However, his promotion has raised questions about India’s tactics and the handling of all-rounders. Despite Sundar’s effective contributions with the bat and ball, including scores of 42, 12 not out, and a key 23 at Lord’s, the team opted to go with Thakur, leaving many to wonder whether the decision was tactical or based on other factors.
While India ended Day 1 on a solid 264 for 4, the promotion of Shardul Thakur over Washington Sundar has reopened discussions about India’s batting flexibility. Whether the decision will prove successful will depend on how Thakur and the lower-middle order perform with the new ball on Day 2.
In other news read more about Banned Cricketer Brendan Taylor Set to Play Against Black Caps
