Shardul Thakur, who was not picked for the Australia Test series, has had a sensational Ranji Trophy, but is it enough to warrant an India comeback?
Affectionately dubbed 'Lord' by fans for his knack of conjuring magic in clutch moments, Shardul Thakur has once again thrust himself into the spotlight with a stellar Ranji Trophy season. With 381 runs at an average of 47.62 – including four fifty-plus scores and a century, the latter coming after his team were in deep trouble – and 24 wickets, the second-most for Mumbai this season, including a hat-trick, Thakur's all-round brilliance has reignited discussions about his place in the Indian Test squad.
Yet, after being overlooked for the Australia tour, the question remains: can his domestic heroics translate into a national return?
Thakur’s selection in the Indian Test team has always revolved around balance, allowing India to be more versatile with their plans. Thakur made his debut in 2018, playing just one game over the next three years. But since his comeback in 2021, he became a crucial cog in India's overseas campaigns, particularly in SENA countries. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball allowed India the luxury to drop R Ashwin, one of the best off-spinners in the world but also a useful batter, overseas. The move brought in much criticism but also seemed to work for India, with Thakur stepping up, more often than not.
In his 11-Test career, Thakur scored 331 runs at an average of 19.47 and picked up 31 wickets at 28.38. He hit four half-centuries – two each in Australia and England – as well, which further underscored his value in the side. His bowling highlight was his seven-for at Johannesburg in 2022 in a game where the other frontline seamers from India looked lacklustre.
The game proved to be his last impactful performance as consistency eluded him thereafter. Over the next eight innings, he managed only 82 runs, 51 of which came in one innings against Australia in the World Test Championship final. His bowling returns dipped too, with just five wickets at an average of 66.60.
His fitness took a hit as well. Thakur injured his ankle during the 2024 IPL and had to undergo surgery in June. He was away from competitive cricket for nearly five months, forcing the selectors to go in with another seam all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the Australia series. Despite his limited first-class experience, Reddy was entrusted with the crucial role over Thakur, who had also not had an impressive IPL before injury cut short his tournament. Thakur also went unsold in the mega-auction, which put question marks over his future. However, he seems to have silenced them all with a memorable Ranji Trophy, where his temperament shone the brightest.
Lessons from Australia: Thakur was missed
What has further added to the discourse about his return is India’s performance Down Under. The team felt off-kilter, with Reddy's limited bowling skills becoming a topic of discussion as the series progressed. Reddy bowled just 44 overs in nine innings, fewer than Harshit Rana’s 45 in three.
The imbalance ended up hurting India – almost literally – forcing Jasprit Bumrah, to shoulder a disproportionate workload. Bumrah bowled 151.3 overs throughout the series, which was slightly less than Pat Cummins’, but the lack of a reliable fourth seamer for India coupled with inconsistencies from the second and third quick meant shorter recovery periods for him. It eventually forced him out in the middle of the last Test, his absence being dearly missed in the last innings at Sydney.
It is here that Thakur’s ability to bowl crucial overs could have alleviated this strain whilst offering India a more experienced attack.
What does the future hold, for him and India?
So, what next for India, and Thakur? As India look forward to the tour of England, the selectors will be wary of sticking to a lean pace bowling attack again. India need to adopt an attacking approach, which will necessarily mean fielding five proper bowling options, instead of stacking up the side with bits-and-pieces players.
Do they stick with Reddy, hoping for significant improvements in his bowling, or do they recall Thakur, banking on his recent domestic form and past overseas success?
Neither option is without its challenges. Reddy’s batting prowess is evident, but his bowling needs substantial enhancement to fulfil the all-rounder role effectively. While picking Thakur, who is 32, the discussion will be whether he is a part of India’s long-term plans, or would his inclusion suggest a step backward in building for the future.
There are currently no like-for-like replacements for Thakur in the fray but India can also groom Harshit Rana for the role going forward. His height and ability to hit the deck offer a different dimension to India’s pace attack. Rana has also showcased his batting abilities, with a Ranji century to his name, and has expressed his enthusiasm for batting while speaking to Wisden.com previously. However, as with Reddy, he is not an immediate solution.
India’s manner of capitulation in Australia has certainly reignited the debate about Thakur’s return, but a lot will depend on how the team looks ahead to their big transition. Do they want to start from scratch, discarding all senior players in one go to bring in new prospects, or will they stagger the changes to ensure a smoother shift? It all depends on how the men-who-matter envision the team’s future journey.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
