Shardul Thakur in action for KKR in IPL 2023© Twitter
Specialist seam bowler Shardul Thakur not being given a single over in KKR’s seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans on Saturday raised eye-brows but opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz said that fitness might not be the issue. Asked if fitness was a concern for Shardul, Gurbaz said: “If you are not fit enough, then you will not play. It might be that the team doesn’t need him to bowl. The captain knows it better.” Making a comeback after a niggle, Shardul was promoted in batting order at No. 3 as a pinch hitter, a move that did not work as he capped a four-ball duck.
“The coach and management know better than me. I can’t say anything on this,” said Gurbaz.
“This might be a special plan. They might have discussed before the game. He might have liked to bat in the top-order”.
Picked in India’s World Test Championship Final-bound squad against Australia, Shardul has played six of KKR’s nine matches, in which he has bowled just 11.5 overs.
“He might not have been fit enough to bowl. I can’t say anything on this. Coaches and captain know better than me,” the Afghan opener insisted.
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