Bharat Arun backs Shardul Thakur to play as fast bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya’s absence

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 suspended, the focus has been shifted towards the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final, which will be played between India and England. The Ageas Bowl in Southampton will host the much-awaited encounter, which will get underway on June 18.

Following the WTC final, Team India will cross swords in a five-match Test series against England. Hence, Virat Kohli and Co. should be fully prepared with a long tour of England ahead. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 20-man squad for the WTC final and England series that will fly for the UK in the coming weeks.

Hardik Pandya was one of the most notable omissions in the squad, which means India don’t have any fast-bowling all-rounder for the tour. Hardik was expected to play a major role in India’s upcoming Test assignments but his back issues haven’t allowed him from bowling much lately and hence, the dashing all-rounder missed his flight to the UK.

With England pitches being tailor-made for swing bowling, Pandya’s absence can hurt the top-ranked Test side. However, India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun has backed Shardul Thakur to occupy the crucial spot.

“It is more of a selectors’ job to find them and then we can develop those all-rounders. Shardul has proved he can be an all-rounder. What he did in Australia was fabulous,” Arun said in a conversation facilitated by Ironwood Education Company.

Shardul Thakur was brilliant with the willow in Australia

Earlier this year, Shardul impressed one and all with his all-round heroics against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. It was the fourth and deciding Test of the series, and Thakur, who was playing his first Test in over two years, put up a brilliant show. He scored a crucial 67 in India’s first innings and also took seven wickets in the game. As a result, India won the contest by three wickets and registered a memorable 2-1 win Down Under. However, the return of big names meant Thakur didn’t play any more Test after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Notably, Thakur has also played several crucial cameos for India in white-ball cricket. Batting lower down the order, Shardul’s ability to clear the ropes has come in handy. Hence, Arun believes that Thakur can be India’s fast bowling all-rounder in the longest format of the game.

Further in the conversation, Arun also admitted that it’s difficult to find a player of Hardik’s caliber but the dasher isn’t yet ready to play as an all-rounder in Test cricket.

“I wish you could just wish and develop bowlers like that. Hardik is an outstanding talent, but unfortunately, he had to undergo a back operation and then it’s not very easy to come back after that,” Arun opined.

“He bowled against England, I thought he did a really good job. But, to sustain that we need to manage him well and build on his strength. So ideally, yes (we need to develop seam bowling all-rounder), there must be a few (in domestic cricket) because we are always on the circuit with the Indian team, we have not had an opportunity to look at the domestic all-rounders,” he added.

Hardik last played a Test way back in August 2018 in England series. However, he missed several crucial series since then due to his back issues and his future in Test cricket looks in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the Baroda-born cricketer is expected to be a part of India’s white-ball team travelling to Sri Lanka in July. The tour comprises three ODIs and as many T20Is, starting from July 13.