Former Indian team selector Sunil Joshi disagreed with Indian World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir’s suggestion of picking Shivam Dube over Shardul Thakur for the impending Asia Cup 2023. Shardul Thakur will be part of the team as a fast-bowling all-rounder in the India 17-man squad for the continental event.
Shardul Thakur has been a strike bowler for the Indian team as he has the knack of picking up wickets in the middle over and has proved his mettle as a capable batter in the lower order batting. The Mumbai all-rounder has picked up 58 wickets in the 38 ODIs and scored 315 runs in these games for the Indian team.
During a discussion with Star Sports, former Indian Cricketer Gautam Gambhir said that India should have gone in with Shivam Dube in the place of Shardul Thakur for the Asia Cup 2023, as he feels that Thakur cannot be a backup for Hardik Pandya in the team.
“One name they should have definitely considered is Shivam Dube because of the king of form he is in. You need a backup for Hardik Pandya. Shardul Thakur can’t be that. Shardul Thakur cannot be Hardik’s backup,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Shivam Dube has been an important player for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 season and the all-rounder has played exceptionally well in the middle order for the five-time champions. and made it into the India squad for the three-match Ireland series and will be part of the India squad for the Asian Games.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Joshi disagreed with the suggestion of Gautam Gambhir of picking Shivam Dube in the team for the Asia Cup 2023, as he feels that the 50-over format is entirely different one from that of the shorter format of the game and also raised his concerns regarding his skillset with the ball.
“No, I don’t think so. We have seen Shivam Dube. He would’ve been scoring in T20s but this is an entirely different format and a different tournament. With due respect to Gautam, this is my view. He has struggled with the ball and also in the field,” Sunil Joshi said.
Shivam Dube can counter-attack the spinners in the middle overs and shift the momentum in the favour of his team and he possesses the versatility and ability to bat at any position in the batting order whereas Shardul Thakur is a more fast-bowling all-rounder in the team.