Why Shardul Thakur should be considered specialist bowler & Nitish Reddy as pure batter

Following India’s loss at Headingley, Leeds to England in ENG vs IND 1st Test, head coach Gautam Gambhir claimed that Shardul Thakur wasn’t included in the playing XI as a specialist bowler. Well, the visitors surely seemed to have erred in making that decision – given that the all-rounder was underutilized with the ball and did not make any impact with the bat. Going forward, a debate will surely emerge as to whether Nitish Kumar Reddy should take Thakur’s place in the playing XI.

However, it would be unwise for India to consider Nitish and Shardul as all-rounders. Both individuals, though all-rounders, are suited for certain skill sets. And it is this that Shubman Gill must put to optimum use while deciding on who should be picked in the XI.

Shardul is specialist bowler, Nitish a pure batter. Period

Despite possessing the experience of having bowled 104 overs in England prior to ENG vs IND 1st Test, Shardul was used for a combined 16 overs in Leeds. While Gambhir did defend that move by stating that it was Gill’s call based on instincts and conditions, it didn’t make sense to have him in the playing XI if they did not want to use him more in bowling.

Thakur already had 10 wickets from 5 matches while bowling in England. He managed to add just two more to that list after the Headingley Test. However, Thakur could have perhaps added more wickets to his tally had he been used for longer spells. Besides, the all-rounder is used to bowling for longer spells with the red-ball, something that he has done for India in the past and for Mumbai in first-class cricket as well.

Shardul failed to deliver with the bat, scoring just 1 and 4 while batting at number 8. Naturally, this disqualifies Gambhir’s argument that he was in the side not as a specialist bowler. Should India want to persist with Thakur in the XI, then he should simply be given more overs.

Now, let’s talk about Nitish Kumar Reddy. First of all, if he is included in the playing XI, he is certain to bat above where Thakur did. And Reddy’s expertise with the bat outweighs his experience with the ball. Should India think of including him in the playing XI, then Gill must keep in mind that he will be of more use with the bat and of very little use with the ball in terms of wicket taking ability.

Unlike Shardul, Nitish has tasted limited success with the ball. He has five Tests wickets from 5 matches so far, all of it coming in Australia off 44 overs. On the other hand, with the bat, the all-rounder has fared much better – having scored 298 runs in 9 innings out of which he has managed to cross the 40+ run mark on 4 occasions.

While Shardul does have three half-centuries to his name in England, he will surely be more effective with the ball compared to Nitish. Thus, it would be wise for Gill to reconsider as to how he brands the two all-rounders while deciding on the playing XI for the upcoming Tests.