Virat Kohli Will Be In Trouble If Shardul Thakur Is Injured, Reckons Mohammad Kaif

Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said that bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur’s unavailability in the second Test against England at Lord’s will be tough for the Virat Kohli-led Indian team to maintain an equitable balance.

On the eve of the second Test, the Indian team management announced that Thakur is unavailable for selection because of injury, and Indian skipper Virat Kohli believes the all-rounder to be fit for the third Test.

Lack of pace-bowling all-rounder for India in Shardul Thakur’s absence

Although Thakur has played only three Tests so far in his international career, but the role that he plays as a bowling all-rounder in the current Indian team is very hard to replace.

India does not have any backup option for a player who can bat significantly and play as a pace bowler. Hardik Pandya, who played a similar role in India’s previous tour of England in 2018, hasn’t played Test cricket since then and Kaif fears that Thakur’s absence in the Indian team will cause them trouble.

Virat Kohli will be in trouble if Shardul Thakur is injured: Mohammad Kaif

“Virat Kohli will be in trouble if Shardul is injured. India doesn’t have a fast-bowling all-rounder on the tour and they don’t have any (like-to-like) options,” Kaif told News18 during an interaction set up by Sony Sports Network.

Thakur went for a nought in the first inning against James Anderson but was impactful with the bowl having taken England skipper Joe Root’s wicket to end his masterclass innings of 64.

Kaif believes either ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin or veteran pacer Ishant Sharma could replace the Mumbai player for the second Test. Kaif also named Umesh Yadav as another possibility who could play as India’s fourth pace bowler.

“Ashwin may come in or an extra fast bowler. If Ishant Sharma is fit, he automatically makes the cut. Otherwise, they have Umesh Yadav and others in the squad. But it’s tough to have balance if Shardul doesn’t play,” Kaif mentioned.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman opined that he would pick Ashwin in place of Thakur because of the spinner’s ability to adapt to any kind of conditions.

Also Read: VVS Laxman Backs Ravichandran Ashwin To Play For Shardul Thakur At Lord’s Against England