India sent Shardul Thakur at No.7 ahead of Washington Sundar on day one of the Old Trafford Test, leading to strong reactions.
India were put into bat after losing the toss for a record 14th time in international cricket. Following a strong opening partnership of 94, England came back strongly, reducing India to 140-3 when Rishabh Pant came out to bat. In his unique way, Pant raced off to 37 off 47 balls when he attempted an audacious reverse lap off a Chris Woakes full toss that hit his boot. The injury was serious enough to force Pant off the field.
Sai Sudharsan was then dismissed in the 74th over, leaving India 235-4, not counting Pant being retired hurt. With less than seven overs to go for the new ball and only around an hour's play left, India decided to send in the right-handed Thakur at No.7 ahead of the left-handed Sundar, much to the surprise of everyone watching.
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Karthik: Sundar bats better with other batters around, not with tailenders
"I'm just trying to work out the logic from India here as to why they've sent Shardul in ahead of Washington Sundar," Ricky Ponting said on commentary. "Just looking at the numbers, I mean, Washington averages nearly 39 in Test cricket and Shardul is down at 17. And he's [Sundar] not being sent out. He's [Shardul] not a night watchman, there's still 40 minutes of play here, and a new ball around the corner."
"All the more reason [to send Sundar ahead of Shardul]," responded Ravi Shastri. "He played in the first Test match. Dismissed pretty cheaply, a couple of loose shots," Shastri said, referring to Shardul's scores of 1 and 4 in the first match of the series at Headingley.
Dinesh Karthik, who came in to commentate after Ponting, expressed his surprise at India's batting order as well: "I was extremely surprised too, considering how well Washington has batted, not only in this series, but in the recent past – and he's batted better with batters around. He's not been that effective with the tail."
Sundar has made crucial contributions with the bat in this series, having come into the XI at Edgbaston. He scored 42 and 12 not out in the second Test and 23 and 0 at Lord's, to go with one wicket in Birmingham and five in the third game.
Overall, Sundar has scored 545 runs at 38.92 from 11 Tests, including four fifties. Shardul, on the other hand, averages 17.68 with the bat from 12 Tests, also with four fifties. He did, however, negotiate the tricky period towards the end of the day, remaining unbeaten on 19 off 36 balls as India finished on 264-4.
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