IND vs ENG: Did India backpedal on Shardul Thakur? Gautam Gambhir's statement before Australia series offers contrast

Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy during a nets session at Headingly. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: In a twist to India's selection strategy,
Shardul Thakur
was named in the playing XI for the first Test against England at Headingley, raising eyebrows over the team's sudden pivot from recent choices. Just a few months ago, ahead of the Australia tour, head coach
Gautam Gambhir
had indicated that the selectors had moved on from the Mumbai all-rounder.
Live Score:
India vs England, 1st Test Day 1
The Indian team, now under the leadership of Shubman Gill, is entering a new red-ball era after the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. But the inclusion of 33-year-old Thakur as the fourth pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna is being seen as a possible contradiction to the forward-looking stance taken earlier.
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Before India left for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Gambhir had openly backed youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy over Thakur. "It is also about moving forward," Gambhir had said at the pre-departure press conference. "We have picked the best squad who can do the job for us. Nitish Reddy, we all know how incredibly talented he is and if given an option, he will deliver for us."
Poll
Has the selection of Shardul Thakur contradicted the earlier selection strategy?
Yes, it seems contradictory
No, it's a tactical decision
Thakur, however, now finds himself in the thick of action in England - a country where he has previously performed well, taking 10 wickets and scoring 173 runs in four matches on the last tour.
While Gambhir's words then suggested a changing of the guard, India's team sheet in Leeds reveals a more pragmatic selection - perhaps dictated by Thakur's past success in English conditions, or a shift in thinking.
'Wait until August to see what kind of style it's going to be': Shubman Gill ahead of Headingley Test
India XI for 1st Test vs England:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (w), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
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