Team India's reputation in the red-ball format took a stern blow after the embarrassing 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The team hit another inroad in the following series, which was the tour of Australia, where India lost three of the five Tests. The outcome saw India lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time after a decade. The other repercussion from the loss was India losing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which the first time since the competition has been introduced by the ICC.
The series against Australia also saw plenty of chatter over future of some India stars. While Ravichandran Ashwin called time on his international career midway during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions were also raised about Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli's future in the format.
As the focus now shifts to white-ball cricket with India's next Test series only being in late June, India star, who was once a vital cog in the red-ball setup, has set his eyes on comeback. Shardul Thakur, who has represented India previously in all three formats, in a conversation with Revsportz stated that he was "quite disturbed" from his snub from the Australia tour but looks forward to the next challenge, which is the series against England, also marking the beginning of a brand new WTC cycle.
In doing so, the bowling all-rounder also made an interesting assessment and claimed he has the skills to fill the big boots of Ashwin and Jadeja, who on multiple occasions have helped India with their bat.
"Self-belief and confidence are very high. There is no bigger motivation than playing for your country. If you look at Team India's combination, whether playing in India or abroad, you always need a bowler who can bat at No. 7 or 8. Ravichandran Ashwin used to play and won many games with the bat as well. Ravindra Jadeja has also shown that capability. I believe I have the skill to deliver for Team India even at No. 7 or 8," he said.
"Even if I am the third or fourth seamer in the team, it does not mean I am less than anyone. For Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, I play as a lead bowler, so I am used to bowling with the new ball. Hence, if Jasprit Bumrah is bowling from one end and the Team India captain wants me to start from the other, I am up for it, as this is nothing new to me. I believe my bowling has the versatility to adjust according to different situations.
"If you think of T20Is, in the matches where Bumrah and I played together, I operated more in the death overs. In Test cricket, I can bowl with both the new and old ball. With the bat, I think any runs from numbers eight to eleven are valuable for the team. Especially when we are touring England, as an away team, those extra runs provide a cushion for the bowlers. Eventually, they become the key difference in a particular game," he added.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
