Thakur, who was playing just his third Test match was preferred ahead of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the fourth pacer in the bowling attack, who also offers something with the bat. Thakur provided some crucial breakthroughs to the team in both innings picking up four wickets, two in each innings. Thakur dismissed Joe Root and Ollie Robinson in the same over in the first innings to swing the match in his side's favour and similarly removed Dan Lawrence and Jos Buttler in the second innings. Now, with Thakur unsure for the second Test, Team India might bring in one of Ashwin or Ishant Sharma. Durham pacer Mark Wood might get a look-in in place of Broad if the 35-year old indeed misses out.

Source: dna August 11, 2021 04:41 UTC