IND vs ENG 4th Test: ‘Giving bowling is captain’s name, not in my palms’ – Shardul Thakur puts the ball in Shubman Gill’s court on bowling strategy | Cricket News – Times of India

TimesofIndia.com in Manchester: On a day dominated for lengthy stretches by England’s opening pair, it was the brave return of Rishabh Pant that really outlined the narrative of Day 2 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Battling a fractured toe sustained on Day 1, Pant walked in after the fall of Shardul Thakur to a rousing ovation from the Manchester crowd. Clearly in ache, the wicketkeeper-batter stood tall to attain a gutsy 54 off 75 balls, serving to India stretch their whole to 358. “It was always our plan… (for Rishabh Pant to bat). The medical team did a great job but he was still in a lot of pain,” Shardul Thakur informed reporters in the press convention after the day’s play on Thursday. Pant’s knock was an emblem of defiance after India had earlier misplaced Ravindra Jadeja in the early phases of Day 2. Thakur (41) and Washington Sundar (27) stitched a helpful stand earlier than England, led by Ben Stokes’ 5/72, wrapped up the innings put up-lunch.Thakur, who bowled simply 5 overs for 35 runs, identified that bowling selections rested with the captain. “Giving bowling is the captain’s call. Not in my hands. The captain decides when to give them. I could have bowled two overs more today but that is the captain’s call. It is difficult to find rhythm but I try and use my experience.” His blunt response on the identical mirrored the belief in the skipper and the calls he made throughout the 4th Test, up till the finish of day’s play on Thursday.On Pant’s health, Thakur added: “It will be his call. He didn’t come in the bus today because he was in the hospital. He wasn’t at the ground when we were warming up. It is a fracture — the news is already out.” England’s reply started on a dominant observe, with openers Zak Crawley (84) and Ben Duckett (94) racing to a 166-run stand in simply 32.4 overs. India lastly broke by way of when Jadeja had Crawley caught behind, and Anshul Kamboj dismissed Duckett to disclaim him a century, which was additionally the 24-yr-previous’s maiden Test wicket.

“Whatever runs we got on the board was a good effort, ball was doing a lot,” Thakur stated, defending the group’s whole. However, he admitted the bowlers might have finished higher. “We could have been better with the new ball. Runs just kept flowing. It wasn’t difficult for bowlers… we could have been patient. We have to evaluate which deliveries to stick by.” England ended the day at 225 for 2, trailing India by 133 runs, with Ollie Pope (20) and Joe Root (11) unbeaten. However, it was Pant’s combating spirit that set the tone, giving India hope heading into Day 3 of this significant encounter.