Mumbai: Indian all-rounder and current captain of Mumbai Shardul Thakur Claimed he was “underutilized” during last year’s five-Test series in England. Playing under new Test captain Shubman Gill and guided by the head coach Gautam GambhirIndia drew 2-2 in the five Test matches. Thakur, who took 33 Test wickets in 13 Tests at 31.03, played only two Tests in the series, in which he took two wickets at 72.00 with an economy rate of 5.33. In two Tests, Thakur conceded 144 runs in 27 balls. Thakur bowled just six overs in the first innings of the first Test at Leeds, conceding 38 runs without taking a wicket while India bowled 100.4 overs. In the second innings, he took 2 for 51 in 10 overs while India posted 82 overs. India lost that Test by 5 wickets while England scored 465 and 373 runs by 5 wickets respectively. Thakur was recalled for the fourth Test in Manchester, where he conceded 0-55 in 11 overs as England accumulated 669 runs in the first innings. The game ended in a draw. Interestingly, in all three situations, Thakur bowled the least number of overs among all the regular Indian bowlers. “After 2024-25, which is the season I had (he took 35 wickets in 9 games at 22.62), I thought I could play a few more games and really make a difference. When I played in England, I was not utilized properly in terms of bowling. In terms of batting, yes, it was my fault that I bowled loosely in Leeds (he was in 1 and 4 out). But in Manchester, I batted well (he scored 41 in the first innings) and I would say the weather was gloomy and the ball was swinging and had a weird bounce of a length. So I survived that spell. India still posted a very strong total (358) in the first innings. Then the pitch became even and then we were able to save the game as well. But if I had not finished that innings when the second new ball arrived, the outcome might have been different as well,” Thakur told a select group of reporters on the sidelines of the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ‘2026-27 Season Launch’ at MCA’s BKC facility here on Wednesday. Shardul, 34, denied the fact that he had “conceded” a run during the England series due to some “calculation error”, saying: “I would like to say I was conceded a run but was hit at the wrong stage. So what I’m saying is there are some calculation errors. “ Has “Palghar Express” spoken to the captain to clarify the situation regarding him? “No, I mean, usually you don’t say a word to the captain or the coach because all the attention is on the game. Whenever you are asked to do something, all you think about is, okay, now is my chance and I want to contribute to the team. While doing that, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t happen,” Thakur replied. Undermining the fact that he was called off the attack even after taking a wicket Ben Duckett and Harry Brooke In the 55th over of the Leeds Test, where England managed to chase down 373 runs for the loss of just 5 wickets, Thakur said, “So, if you see that in Leeds, I got those two back-to-back wickets and India got back into the game but then I was stopped again. So that’s where I could bowl a little longer and maybe get another wicket and then other bowlers would come in and we could win that game as well.” Again, ifs and buts.“ “My comments are not going to change the scenario and the outcome of that game. But, yes, I mean, you don’t usually have those kinds of conversations with the captain and everyone. You basically accept whatever is asked of you,” Thakur said. During last year’s Test series in England, Thakur had hinted at a press conference that he was unhappy with the fact that he was bowling far less than he wanted. However, despite Thakur’s traumatic experience last time playing for the national team, he still hopes to get a chance to play for India again in the future. “So, it’s not that I didn’t contribute anything the last time I played for India. But, yes, I think I should get more opportunities. But that’s okay. Like I said, hope is still there. In the near future, if they invite me to play for India again, I will be ready,” he said.
