Shardul Thakur Hits Out at Captain Shubman Gill and Coach Gautam Gambhir for 'Underutilised' Role in IND vs ENG Test Series
Shardul Thakur, the India all-rounder, has sensationally claimed he was "underutilized" during the Shubman Gill-led Test series in England last year (June-August 2025). The 35-year-old pacer expressed disappointment over limited bowling opportunities, citing a "calculation error" in his deployment, despite playing a crucial role with the bat in the 4th.
Veteran India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has publicly expressed his deep disappointment over his role in the five-match Test series against England last year, which saw a youthful Indian side under the captaincy of Shubman Gill and coached by Gautam Gambhir. Speaking on Wednesday, the 35-year-old pacer alleged he was 'underutilized' and often bowled in 'wrong phases,' hindering his ability to make a significant contribution to the team's efforts. Durham Weather Forecast and Rain Chances for India vs England 1st T20I 2026.
"When I played in England, I was not utilised properly in bowling," Thakur stated, adding, "I would say (I) was being underbowled and it was about being bowled in wrong phases. So, there was some calculation error that I would say."
Shardul Thakur's Frustration
The India tour of England in June-August 2025 marked a new era for Indian Test cricket, with 25-year-old Shubman Gill taking over the captaincy after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format in May 2025. The series, part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, saw India draw 2-2 against England.
Thakur featured in two of the five Test matches, bowling a mere 27 overs across three innings. His limited opportunities raised eyebrows, with critics like former India cricketer Aakash Chopra also questioning his deployment.
Key Instances of Underutilization
As per Times of India, Thakur specifically recalled instances where he felt he could have turned the tide. In the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, he was given only six overs in England's first innings, despite other bowlers struggling. He managed to pick up two crucial back-to-back wickets in the second innings, bringing India back into the game, but was then unexpectedly taken off the attack. Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Make His India Debut in IND vs ENG 1st T20I 2026?.
"So, if you see that in Leeds, I got those two back-to-back wickets and India was back in the game, but then I was stopped again. So that's where I could have bowled a longer spell, maybe got another wicket and then the other bowlers would have come in and we could have won that game also. So again, ifs and buts," Thakur lamented.
During the fourth Test in Manchester, where he scored a crucial 41 runs in India's first innings, Thakur once again found himself on the periphery of the bowling attack. He bowled just five of the 46 overs on Day 2 of that match.
When questioned about discussing his concerns with the captain or coach, Thakur explained the in-match dynamics: "No, I mean, usually you don't have a word with the captain or the coach because all the focus 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 deliver for the team'." Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Make His India Debut in IND vs ENG 1st T20I 2026?.
Shardul Thakur's Performance in England Test Series 2025
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 2 |
| Innings Bowled | 3 |
| Overs Bowled | 27 |
| Wickets Taken | 2 |
| Bowling Average | 72.00 |
| Economy Rate | 5.33 |
| Highest Score (Batting) | 41 (4th Test, Manchester) |
Thakur's comments shed light on the challenges faced by all-rounders in Test cricket, especially under new leadership, and highlight the perpetual debate surrounding optimal player utilization in high-stakes series. With his candid remarks coming a year after the tour, it's clear the experience continues to resonate with the Mumbai all-rounder.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2026 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
