The inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup has sparked significant debate with numerous former cricketers offering their views on both the advantages and disadvantages of his selection. Robin Uthappa, a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, has now shared his perspective. Uthappa acknowledged Shardul’s ability to take wickets and praised him as a top-notch bowler. However, he expressed concerns about Shardul’s economic rate.
The all-rounder has shown his consistent presence in the national team in recent times, earning preference from the team management over Mohammed Shami during the recently concluded Asia Cup. His ability to make quick contributions with the bat has solidified his position in the team and it’s anticipated that the Rohit Sharma-led team will maintain this strategy in the upcoming ODI World Cup. However, Robin Uthappa has shown his concern regarding the economic rate of Shardul Thakur.
“Shardul Thakur could be a concern for Team India. Yes, he picks up wickets and is a high-quality bowler, but he leaks a lot of runs. It can be very expensive. That’s something that he will have to pay attention to. He is someone who is always going to take wickets, but when he doesn’t take wickets, he ends up looking a little expensive. In CSK, we used to fondly call him the golden arm. I am certain that his role will be very similar for the Indian team,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
Talking about one of the most notable changes in the Indian squad, R Ashwin has been replaced by Axar Patel. The star spinner has replaced the left-handed all-rounder Axar Patel for the upcoming ODI World Cup. Axar suffered a quadriceps injury in the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Bangladesh.
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“It certainly seems like Ashwin will be the number-one pick if India misses out on Axar Patel. With his experience in India, he is going to be a very dangerous bowler. He got an outside chance, and he is a high-quality player who brings out his best performances in such situations. From not being selected in the World Cup squad to deceiving batters in the Australia series, Ashwin has done exceptionally well,” Uthappa said.
