'Don't think I was utilised properly in England': Shardul Thakur opens up on his Test snub

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up on his exclusion from the Test side, claiming he was not "utilised properly" during the five-Test tour of England last year. Speaking on the sidelines of a Mumbai Cricket Association event, the 34-year-old suggested tactical missteps rather than a lack of ability had limited his impact, while making clear his hunger to return to international cricket remains undimmed.

Thakur, whose most recent Test appearance came in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, featured in just two matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and believes his strong domestic form warranted more opportunities.

The central grievance

At the heart of Thakur's frustration was how he was deployed with the ball. Across his two Tests in England, in Leeds and Manchester, he sent down only 27 overs and picked up a couple of wickets, a workload he felt was both limited and poorly timed.

He argued that the issue was not simply being under-bowled, but being brought on in the wrong phases of play. There had been, in his words, some calculation error in how his overs were managed, which he felt prevented him from making a telling contribution.

Owning his batting error

Thakur was careful not to lay all the blame elsewhere, accepting responsibility for one of his dismissals. He acknowledged that playing a loose shot in Leeds had been his own mistake, showing a willingness to own his shortcomings.

But he was proud of his effort with the bat in Manchester, recalling a gritty 88-ball 41 in tricky, overcast conditions where the ball was swinging. He survived a testing spell on a surface offering variable bounce, helping India post a strong first-innings total of 358 before the pitch flattened and England amassed a mammoth reply.

No conversation with the management

Asked whether he had raised these concerns with captain Shubman Gill or head coach Gautam Gambhir, Thakur explained that such discussions rarely happen in the heat of a Test match, with everyone's focus locked on the game.

He described the mindset of a player simply wanting to deliver whenever called upon, noting that you take on whatever role is asked of you and hope it comes off. Sometimes it works, he reflected, and sometimes it does not — but the conversations about usage tend not to take place with the leadership group.

Disappointment at missing out

The seam-bowling all-rounder made no secret of his disappointment at being left out, feeling his performances merited a longer run in the side. He pointed to the quality of his 2024-25 season as evidence that he could have played more games and made a difference.

While acknowledging that dwelling on selection calls involves plenty of "ifs and buts", and that his comments would not change past results, Thakur clearly believes he was not given a fair enough opportunity to establish himself.

Determined to return

Despite the setbacks, Thakur's ambition to play for India again burns brightly. He said the bar was set at 100 per cent when it came to making a comeback, framing a return to the international arena as a dream worth chasing.

He reminded onlookers of his knack for producing match-defining performances, having won games for India on a handful of memorable occasions across his career. That belief in his big-match temperament remains a key source of motivation.

Focus on Mumbai duty

For now, Thakur's energies are directed towards domestic cricket, where he captains Mumbai across formats. Ahead of the new season, he is focused on leading from the front and helping to develop the next crop of young fast bowlers coming through the ranks.

With a competitive home season on the horizon, strong returns for Mumbai represent his most direct route back into the selectors' thinking.

The final word

Thakur's candid remarks offer a rare insight into the frustrations of a player on the fringes of the national side. Honest about his own errors yet firm in his belief that he was under-used, the veteran all-rounder is channelling that disappointment into a renewed push for a recall. Whether the selectors afford him another chance may well hinge on how he performs in the season ahead.