Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has recently addressed the absence of star spinner Kuldeep Yadav and opener Abhimanyu Easwaran in the recently terminated Test series between England and India. Thakur, who participated in two of the five matches, said he understands those struggles ,as he too has endured bitter disappointments in similar situations, before understanding that players must sift through these situations with tenacity. Thakur also explained that team selection has a lot to do with conditions and combinations that prevent every quality player from playing all the time, especially in a squad full of quality players. 

The 33-year-old further backed Gautam Gambhir and team management’s decisions, highlighting that the selectors and coaches always prioritize fielding the best XI available from the squad. He noted that while many former players, commentators, and experts advocated for Kuldeep’s inclusion before the series began, the left-arm spinner ultimately returned from the long England tour without playing a single Test. Thakur’s remarks underline the competitive nature of the Indian setup, where even highly skilled players struggle for regular chances.

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“Unfortunately or fortunately, the competition is so high in India. There are so many players, and only 11 of them play at the end of the day. So we need to understand that probably this is the best 11 that management is looking at and you’ll have to repeatedly tell your mind this was not my game, that’s why I was not selected. Probably according to the pitch conditions or whatever atmospheric conditions, this is the best 11 that we could field for the day and I’m just not part of it,” the all-rounder said speakingh to RevSports.

Shardul Thakur disappointing performance in ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

Shardul Thakur featured in the series opener at Leeds but delivered an underwhelming performance, managing only five runs and picking up two wickets at an expensive economy of 5.56. Despite this, he returned to India’s XI in Manchester, largely because of Washington Sundar’s strong batting form and the absence of key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep Singh in the fourth Test. The team management looked to Thakur for support in the all-rounder’s role, but the expectations placed on him were immense given the circumstances.

Unfortunately, Shardul failed to make a significant impact in his comeback game. While he did score a gritty 41 runs in the first innings, he went wicketless as England amassed a massive 669 in the penultimate clash of the series. In contrast, Washington Sundar proved far more effective, having already scored a crucial 52 in India’s big win at Edgbaston earlier in the series. Sundar finished with 284 runs, including a match-saving 101\* at Old Trafford, along with seven wickets across four Tests.

India clinched a dramatic win by just six runs in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval on Monday, August 4. The match went down to the wire with England needing only seven runs and one wicket in hand.

Gus Atkinson went for an aggressive shot on a full delivery from Mohammed Siraj but missed, resulting in his off stump being rattled and handing India a dramatic victory. With this, the five-match Test series ended in a 2-2 draw.

England had claimed victories at Headingley and Lord’s, while India bounced back strongly to win at Edgbaston and The Oval. The fourth Test, held at Old Trafford in Manchester, ended in a stalemate, setting up a tense and unforgettable series finale.

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The Warriors for India in This Series:

India witnessed standout performances from multiple players throughout the series, with captain Shubman Gill setting the tone. He led the batting charts for India, amassing 754 runs and earning the Player of the Series title for his consistent brilliance.

Mohammed Siraj led the bowling charts with 23 wickets and earned the Player of the Match award for his impactful performance in the final Test at The Oval.

KL Rahul (532 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (516 runs) were also among the top five scorers, playing crucial roles with the bat. Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna both claimed 14 wickets each, making vital contributions with the ball across key moments in the series.

Players Who Can be Dropped in the Upcoming Test Series:

While several players delivered strong performances, a few couldn’t make much of an impact during the series. As India prepares for their upcoming home Test series against the West Indies in October, following the Asia Cup in September, some names might be left out. Here's a look at three players who could be dropped for the West Indies Tests.

• Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, who was recalled for the England Test series, may find himself out of contention for the upcoming West Indies tour. Featuring in just two matches — at Leeds and Old Trafford — Thakur managed only two wickets across three innings, recording figures of 0-38, 2-51, and 0-55, which didn’t quite meet expectations.

Although he contributed a handy 45 runs with the bat, it might not be enough to secure his place. He may need to prove his form and fitness once again through consistent performances in domestic cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy, to earn another shot at the national Test squad.

• Karun Nair

Karun Nair is expected to be left out of the upcoming home series against the West Indies. With promising middle-order players like Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan waiting to take advantage of home conditions, Nair may have to return to the Ranji Trophy and perform well to get another chance in the national team.

His future in the Indian Test team looks uncertain unless the selectors opt to give him more chances. In the recent England series, he managed 205 runs across eight innings, with his top score being 57 in the final Test.

Although Nair still holds a solid Test average of 41.35, it is mainly due to his unbeaten 303 against England in his debut series. With only one century and one fifty in 15 innings, his recent performances haven't been convincing. Adding to his woes, reports suggest he may have suffered a broken index finger, which could keep him out temporarily.

• Anshul Kamboj

Anshul Kamboj made his Test debut during the fourth match of the India-England series, stepping in for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was sidelined due to a knee injury. Initially, Arshdeep Singh was the preferred replacement, but he suffered an injury while training, giving Anshul his maiden opportunity.

However, Anshul's debut didn’t make a strong impact. He was dismissed for a duck and managed just one wicket while conceding 89 runs. With India set to play their next Test series at home, conditions may favour other all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who bring more experience. Anshul will need to sharpen his skills to regain a spot in the squad or the playing XI.

Senior Indian players Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have not been included in the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The team will be led by all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

Pujara and Rahane, who were key members of India’s Test team in the 2010s, have not played international red-ball cricket for some time. This latest decision, announced on Friday, August 1, could be a big blow to their chances of returning to the Test side.

 At present, Pujara is busy doing commentary for the India vs England Test series, while Rahane is focusing on his YouTube channel. Both, however, played in the Ranji Trophy last season.

🚨 NO RAHANE & PUJARA IN DULEEP TROPHY 🚨

- Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara have been ignored from the West Zone Dileep Trophy Squad. (Gaurav Gupta/TOI). pic.twitter.com/iHzlZPI4Z8

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) August 1, 2025

This year, the Duleep Trophy is back to its old zonal format after one season with a four-team structure. Last year’s format had India A, B, C and D competing, with India A winning the title. The BCCI decided to return to the zonal system to give more players from each region a chance to play.

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West Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2025

Shardul Thakur (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswalla.

India pacer Shardul Thakur, who is currently in United Kingdom with the Indian team, is poised to lead West Zone in Duleep Trophy on his return to the country. Thakur, who plays for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy has relatively well in the past years. His performance in the domestic league were key aspects of his return to the national side.

Though there are several star players in the team such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, the selections committee has pinned its hope on the veteran to deliver big.

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The Duleep Trophy is scheduled to commence on August 28 and the Asia Cup 2025 is slated to begin on September 9. This was the major concern for the selection committee for not going with the likes of Shreyas Iyer for the captain’s role despite Iyer’s inclination to lead the side.

West Zone squad:

Shardul Thakur (Capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala.

Shardul Thakur out, Rishabh Pant in. When Thakur was about to cross the boundary line after his departure, Pant made his strides back into the ground again, with a fractured foot. When Shardul and Rishabh met each other at the boundary line, it was one of the main frames from Day 2 of the ongoing England vs. India 4th Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester. During the press conference after the day's end, the India all-rounder shared backstage stories about Rishabh Pant. Thakur was not aware of the vice captain's current status when he went to bat.

He said, "When we were on the bus, Rishabh was not there; he was under medical facilities. Then we only knew that Pant could bat, but first, he had to walk on his own. Later when we reached the venue, warmed up, and I went out in the middle for batting, I didn't see him in the dressing room. So, I don't exactly know what happened at that time. The news is already out about the fracture," Shardul Thakur said this after Day 2 of the 4th Test. 

Despite having a fractured foot, the southpaw fought back brilliantly and scored a half century as well. Balancing mostly on one leg, he slammed Jofra Archer for a huge six. Later, the English pacer bowled him out and ended India's remaining hopes in the first innings. Pant departed for 54 after facing 75 balls with three 4s and a couple of 6s. 

Shardul Thakur explains the whole Pant situation 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/9LsFzHNBgp

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 25, 2025

Read More: [WATCH] Off stump down the ground, Jofra Archer's beauty delivery bowled out Rishabh Pant in ENG vs IND 4th Test

England on the driving seat

Team India scored 358 in the first innings, a fighting score in Manchester. Shardul Thakur played a big role in the lower order. Under pressure and in tough situations, the all-rounder was able to score 41 runs against 88 deliveries. His composed knock came at the right time when his time had already suffered multiple blows. 

The reasonable score of India now, before the beginning of Day 3, looks insufficient, as the home team already climbed to 225 for the loss of only 2 wickets. 

India’s bowling wasn’t up to the mark with the new ball in the last hour of the middle session of the second day’s play in the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. The home openers took full advantage of it and drilled over 100 runs at a rate of more than five. It was a pleasant sight for the fans, who had the routine of seeing India’s dominating pace bowling.

At the end of the day’s play, the veteran all-rounder of the side, Shardul Thakur, lashed out at his captain, Shubman Gill, in the press conference for not giving him more overs in the day. Thakur went for 35 runs in his five overs without any success at an economy of seven, but revealed that he could have bowled a couple of more overs.

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‘If you talk about the first game at Leeds, they told me that there were not many scopes to throw the ball at me. It’s generally the captain’s call, and the players don’t have much to say in it. In this match, the way the game has progressed, I could have bowled two more overs. But the game is still a long way off. I try to use the experience and bowl.’ The Mumbai all-rounder revealed in the presser.

Watch: Shardul Thakur targets Shubman Gill for under-bowling him in Eng vs Ind 4th Test

He also highlighted a little on Rishabh Pant’s fitness, where he said, ‘It will call. He didn’t come on the bus today because he was in the hospital. He wasn’t at the ground when we were warming up. It’s a fracture- the news is already out. It was always our plan to make him bat. The medical team did a great job.’

Shardul Thakur cooked Shubman Gill the captain 😭🔥

Even his teammates don’t respect him😂

pic.twitter.com/ATA02LJ3FW

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) July 25, 2025

India couldn’t break the opening stand for the 166 runs before Ravindra Jadeja used his skills to find the outside edge of a lazy defense from Zak Crawley at the slip corridor for 84 runs in 113 balls.

A few overs later, the debutant Anshul Kamboj got the huge wicket of Ben Duckett on 94, who was trying to cut the short ball but was surprised with its extra bounce to get an outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper. England finished the day with 225/2.

Again a pressure situation (ENG vs IND 4th Test), and again it was Shardul Thakur who stood up to deliver. It was not the first time when the all-rounder delivered forty-plus scores when the game was on the line.

India's batting lineup was exposed right after the injury of Rishabh Pant. After Pant, it was mostly about the all-rounder's performance. Ravindra Jadeja, who scored multiple fifties in the ongoing series, lost his wicket early for only 20. Then, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur got the chance to show their resilience and batting skills at Old Trafford.

Sundar departed for 27 while Shardul was standing tall on the other end of the wicket. It was the inspiring England skipper, Ben Stokes, who again went forward to remove Thakur from the crease. To break the rock-solid defense of Shardul, Stokes bowled in an aggressive manner. The India all-rounder could have easily left the ball, but he chose to play it with his bat.

Read More: Who is N Jagadeesan replacing Rishabh Pant in squad for 5th ENG vs IND Test series?

Shardul tried to play a cut shot, but the implementation was not accurate. Stokes's delivery was quick, well outside the off stump with good bounce. After making connections with the blade, the ball was about to travel fast between the slip cordon and gully.

Watch the stunning catch here

Stokes sticks with his aggressive length and it pays off! 🙌

A superb catch in the cordon from Ben Duckett sees the end of Shardul Thakur.

🇮🇳 3️⃣1️⃣4️⃣-6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/2DnntFzvNX

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025

Ben Duckett was there at the gully, waiting for his moment to shine, and he did it. Duckett threw his body on his left and grabbed the ball at an uncomfortable height. The catch was sharp and quick. Shardul Thakur went back to the pavilion after a well-made 41 off 88.

Stokes claimed 5

Ben Stokes, the captain and the fast-bowling all-rounder, claimed his 5th wicket in the innings after taking the wicket of debutant Anshul Kamboj. Again, a nicely out-and-out thrilling match between England and India. 

India’s potential all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the five-match Test series against England. His exclusion comes just days before the crucial fourth Test in Manchester, scheduled to begin on July 23.

Reddy sustained a knee injury during a training session ahead of the game. Following the incident, medical scans confirmed a notable ligament issue, making him unavailable for the rest of the series.

The injury is a setback for India, who are already facing pressure to level the series after losing the third Test. With the series delicately poised and India needing a win in Manchester to stay in the hunt, Reddy’s absence adds to the team’s challenges ahead of the critical match.

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Nitish Reddy’s Injury Scares Team India:

Nitish Kumar Reddy might not have big numbers to his name—just 45 runs and three wickets from two Tests—but he made a noticeable contribution in the third Test at Lord’s. Acting as the fourth seamer, he delivered a key over that saw him remove two important English batters, briefly shifting momentum in India’s favor.

With the series currently standing at 2-1 in England’s favor, India heads into the fourth Test needing a win to stay alive. They lost the first Test by five wickets, bounced back with a dominant 336-run victory in the second, but narrowly missed out in the third by 22 runs. Reddy’s injury now opens up a spot in the lineup, and with the Manchester Test fast approaching, all eyes will be on who steps in to fill that role.

Shardul Thakur or Dhruv Jurel- Who Will be the Pick in Place of Reddy:

India could turn to Shardul Thakur as a suitable replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI. Shardul featured in the opening Test at Headingley, where he scored just five runs and took two wickets. However, his recent domestic form has been promising. Representing Mumbai in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, the experienced all-rounder scored 505 runs in nine games, including one century and four fifties, and also picked up 35 wickets.

His experience in English conditions is valuable—across five Tests there, he has scored 178 runs with three fifties and claimed 12 wickets. Including him as the fourth seamer would help India maintain the team’s balance, offering both bowling depth and batting stability in the absence of Reddy for the crucial fourth Test.

Dhruv Jurel stepped in as a substitute wicketkeeper at Lord’s after Rishabh Pant suffered an injury. Before the Test series, Jurel had caught attention with strong performances for India A, registering scores of 94, 53*, 52, and 28. His presence with the bat is certainly a boost for the team’s lower order.

However, his selection could impact the team’s balance. If Pant doesn’t recover in time for the Manchester Test, Jurel is likely to take over the keeping duties. But if Pant returns and Jurel is picked purely as a batter, India could miss out on a crucial bowling option. The team management will need to carefully assess the situation before finalizing the playing XI for the crucial fourth Test.

As the fourth Test is a do-or-die clash for India, they cannot afford to weaken their bowling unit. The team faces a tough decision—whether to boost their pace attack or add depth to their batting line-up. Their approach for this crucial match will be key in determining whether they can stay in contention and level the series. All eyes will be on the team combination in Manchester.

Arshdeep Singh, India’s left-arm pacer is well known for his light and entertaining character. Whether that’s during making a reel or a video to funnily pronounce the name of a ground or a player’s story, he always takes the top spot in the ranks. He is currently in England with the senior Test side, but is yet to make his red-ball debut even after the first four fixtures.

Arshdeep Singh has shared a funny reel on his Instagram story where, at the end of the opening day of the ongoing Lord’s Test, he has compared the iconic stadium with one of his teammates. He pointed the phone at the ground and then put the screen to the player, who seemed to be enjoying the comparison.

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“Lord’s may Lord k sathe.” The Punjab-born pacer addressed where he made the comparison between the ‘Home of Cricket’ and Shardul Thakur, who is called the Lord of the game, having gained incredible skills of changing the course and route of the game in his team’s favor at any point in time.

Watch: Arshdeep Singh compares Lord’s with Lord Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur played in the opening game of the five-match series in England at Leeds, where the visiting side went on to lose by five wickets as the Ben Stokes-led side made a record fourth-innings successful chase on a flat Headingley surface under the sun. Thakur didn’t enjoy a great time in the contest with both bat and ball.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Arshdeep Singh (@_arshdeep.singh__)

He was a bit casual with the bat in both innings and was part of the lower-order collapse on both occasions, making it incredibly hard for the Indian side to post over 500 runs on the board in the first innings despite Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant’s centuries. On the other hand, Arshdeep is yet to taste the red ball, despite many predicting him to start in the playing eleven from the very first Test.

The 26-year-old has picked up 66 first-class wickets in 37 innings at an average of 30.37 and two five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 6/40 in an innings. With Jasprit Bumrah not going to play one of the last two Tests and Prasidh Krishna not showing any inspirational bowling in the first two games, Arshdeep could make his debut during the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan is unhappy with Shardul Thakur's performance in the five-match Test series opener in the ongoing England tour. He suggested a name who is best to replace Thakur for the upcoming second Test of the series. 

In the Test series opener at Leeds, Shardul Thakur disappointed with his bowling and batting performances. Returning to Test cricket after one and a half years, Thakur only managed to pick up two wickets in the fourth innings, while scoring only one and four runs. 

Pathan feels that Thakur's comeback was disappointing, while he could have been used in a better way with the ball.  

On his YouTube channel, Pathan said, "It was definitely disappointing the way Shardul Thakur bowled. It was his first game. He was making a comeback after a long time. It's not easy, and he wasn't used as much as he should have been with the ball. He could have been introduced a little earlier. You don't see that much zip in his bowling with a very old ball."

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Shardul Thakur can't let the collapse happen: Irfan Pathan

In the Leeds Test, Indian batters were dominating in both innings, but the late batting order failed to provide any support, as the visitors lost their momentum. Thakur had to play an important role with the bat, but he literary threw his wickets in both innings. Pathan feels that Thakur's batting didn't seem confident enough, and Washington Sundar can be a good replacement for him. 

Pathan added, "There were many factors, but the most disappointing thing I found was that he cannot let the collapse happen if he is batting at No. 8. Since Shardul didn't look that comfortable while batting, the Indian team have the option of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. Your batting will get lengthened if you play Washington Sundar at No. 8. The collapse won't happen."

Should play Washington Sundar: Irfan Pathan

Shardul Thakur, who impressed with the bat as a tail-ender in the last domestic cricket season, has scored 336 runs in 20 Test innings with an average of 17.68, including four half-centuries. Meanwhile, the left-handed lower-order batter, Washington Sundar, who is also an effective off-spinner, has scored 468 runs in 16 innings with an average of 42.54, including four half-centuries. 

Pathan continued, "You will expect at least 15 to 20 runs from him. He should give more as he is a better batsman than Shardul. So, in my opinion, you should play Washington Sundar at No. 8. The Indian team can control the collapses to a large extent. England's bowling will keep getting better. So you will have to lengthen your batting."

On the other hand, Pathan also praised Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is a right-handed middle-order batter and right-arm medium pacer. Reddy impressed with his bat in the latest Australia tour in the 2024-25 season, where he made his Test debut and scored 298 runs in nine innings with an average of 37.25. Apart from one century, Reddy also scored three crucial 40s in that Australia tour.