Why Shardul Thakur over Umran Malik? Paras Mhambrey says Shardul adds depth to India’s batting | Cricket News – Times of India

RAIPUR: In the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, India were widely criticised for playing R Ashwin and Axar Patel over leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal as both Ashwin and Axar can bat a fair bit.
It was a strategy that eventually seemed to have hurt India in the semifinal on a flat wicket at Adelaide, as England coasted to a 169-run chase without loss.
India would want to avoid a similar fate in the 50-over World Cup in India later this year. Preferring to beef up their batting down the order, they are experimenting in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand at home by sacrificing a genuine pace bowler in Umran Malik for an allrounder in Shardul Thakur.
Thakur is an honest trier-it was he who eventually dismissed Michael Bracewell (140) in the final over in the opening ODI at Hyderabad with a yorker on leg stump.

Shardul Thakur (AP Photo)
Malik’s absence, though, has left the attack without that ‘X’ factor in terms of sheer pace, with only Siraj providing it with some spark. Though he has won a couple of Tests against Australia and England with heroic half-centuries, Thakur hasn’t been at his best with the bat in the ODIs. In the last 5 ODIs, Thakur’s scores have been 2, 7 & 3 (vs Bangladesh) & 3 (vs New Zealand).
In 32 ODIs, the Mumbaikar’s average is 19.50, with just one fifty. Thakur is a far better batsman than these numbers show him to be, but are India compromising a missile for a pistol?
Defending the decision to play Thakur ahead of Malik due to the former’s batting skills, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said, “That’s (his batting) is one of the reasons, the way he bats, Shardul adds batting depth to the team as an all-round option. He has performed very well for India in the past. That decision (choice between Malik and Thakur) depends on the surface also. You look at your combination depending on every surface.”

Umran Malik (IANS Photo)
However, the Indian team management seems to be chuffed with the 150-plus pace option that Malik brings to the table.
“The way he (Malik) has progressed, it is very heartening to see. Pace does matter and adds a different dimension to the attack. The decision of playing him will depend on the surface and requirement of the team combination. He is very much in the scheme of things as far as the ODI World Cup is concerned. He adds a lot of value to the team,” Mhambrey said.
Perhaps, India are trying to copy the Kiwi template here. During their amazing 162-run partnership for the 7th wicket in the opening ODI at Hyderabad, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner showed how New Zealand have tremendous batting depth till No 8.
‘Siraj has transformed his skills into white-ball cricket’ Complimenting Mohammed Siraj for his recent performances, Mhambrey said, “I’m extremely happy with the way he’s performed. I have seen him from the India A set up. He did exceedingly well with the red ball. He has transformed his skills and experience into white-ball cricket. He used to get the ball in but has worked on his seam position to get the ball away.”