Shardul Narendra Thakur calls out India’s “calculation errors” in 2025 England tour
Indian all-rounder Shardul Narendra Thakur has publicly questioned the tactical decisions made by the national team management during the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. Speaking on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the 34-year-old Mumbai captain claimed he was “under-utilised” and “under-bowled” during the five-match Test series that took place approximately 12 months ago.
Thakur, who made his last international appearance on July 23, 2025, during that tour, featured in only two of the five Tests: the third match at Headingley, Leeds, and the fourth at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Analysis of Shardul Thakur’s bowling tactics during the England Test tour
During the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) 2026-27 season launch at the BKC facility, Thakur suggested that “calculation errors” regarding his bowling spells limited his potential impact. He specifically pointed to being used in the “wrong phases” despite his domestic form leading into the tour.
The primary point of contention for Thakur involves his limited bowling workload under the leadership of Test captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to direct quotes provided to Rev Sportz, Shardul Thakur felt he was stopped prematurely in the Leeds Test after finding success.
“In Leeds, I got those two back-to-back wickets and India was back in the game, but then I was stopped again,” he explained. He took the wickets of Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in that match but believe he should have been granted a longer spell to capitalize on the breakthroughs.
Data from the tour shows that Thakur bowled a total of 27 overs across his two Test appearances. In the third Test at Leeds, his role in the first innings was particularly restricted, as he delivered just six overs out of the 100.4 overs bowled by the Indian attack.
Key details
While Toto Wolff reacted to George Russell and his teammate’s contact by discussing team-wide discipline, Thakur’s frustration stems from a perceived lack of tactical trust in his ability to break partnerships during overseas conditions.
Mixed performances with bat and ball
Thakur’s contributions during the 2-2 series stalemate were a blend of personal errors and flashes of resilience. He admitted that his cheap dismissal at Leeds was his own fault, stating, “In batting, yes, it was my mistake that I played a loose shot in Leeds.”
However, he defended his performance in the fourth Test at Manchester, where he scored 41 runs at number seven. He described that innings as batting “beautifully” under overcast skies and difficult bounce to help India reach a strong first-innings total.
Despite his efforts with the bat, his bowling figures remained a point of debate after he went wicketless in the Old Trafford match. Thakur believes he could have “literally made a difference” in the series outcome had he played more games following a strong 2024-25 season.
Much like how Gleyber Torres admits extended Detroit Tigers injury absence is difficult to handle, Thakur has found the lack of consistent opportunities at the international level frustrating for his career momentum.
Communication gaps within the Indian team leadership
One of the most striking revelations from Thakur’s interview was the lack of direct dialogue between himself and the team hierarchy regarding his role. When asked about discussing these issues with Gill or Gambhir, he noted that such conversations rarely happen during a match.
“Usually you don’t have a word with the captain or the coach because all the focus is on the game,” Thakur stated. He emphasized that as a player, his only focus is delivering whenever he is asked to perform.
This tactical disconnect comes during a period where coach Gautam Gambhir has publicly questioned the necessity of fast-bowling all-rounders in certain conditions. While Thakur has been a reliable partnership-breaker in the past—most notably his 7/61 against South Africa in 2022—his style of play appears to be at odds with the current management’s blueprint.
The decision-making process in the Indian camp is currently guided by a selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, who often leans on the preferences of the captain and coach for away tours.
Determined path toward an international return
Despite his grievances and being 34 years old, the Mumbai captain is not ready to walk away from the national setup. He maintains a “100 per cent desire” to represent India again and is focused on the upcoming domestic calendar to prove his worth.
Just as Novak Djokovic meets Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to test his longevity at the highest level of tennis, Thakur is using the 2026-27 season launch as a springboard for his own comeback bid.
His message to the selectors was simple: “Hope is still alive. If, in the near future, they ever ask me to play for India again, I’ll be ready.” For now, Thakur remains a key figure for Mumbai, having previously led the team and finished as a joint-highest wicket-taker in past Ranji Trophy seasons.
Whether the Indian management chooses to revisit his utility in the Test arena will likely depend on his ability to sustain his bowling workloads in the months ahead.