I would want Shardul to be given preference in the WTC final: Dinesh Lad

Dinesh Lad, Shardul Thakur's childhood coach, bats for his inclusion in Team India's playing eleven for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Ageas Bowl in Southampton. During the men in blue's triumphant run Down Under, the Maharashtra-born cricketer dazzled everyone with his all-round performance.

"As a coach, I would want Shardul to be given preference in the WTC final based on how he has been performing of late. He can swing both the ball and bat, and it will be a plus point for India to let Shardul fill that all-rounder’s role. But again, everything depends on the team management and coaches,” Dinesh Lad told Sportskeeda.

Dinesh Lad believes the 29-year-old will be an important member of the Indian squad in the long run, as the team has been lacking a pace-bowling all-rounder. He went on to say that in order to achieve good results and performances, Thakur should be given more chances where he can overcome the odds.

"He will definitely get preference in the long run because India are currently lacking in all-rounders. Hardik Pandya was playing as an all-rounder but now he is not able to bowl because of injury. Teams need fast-bowling all-rounders and there is only Shardul Thakur in the queue. But in order to perform well, he needs to get a long run of matches,” he said. 

Coach Lad concluded by stating that the all-rounder has started to play with patience and strokes "along the ground."

“He did a few batting sessions with me during the offseason. Like Rohit, Shardul is also a naturally attacking player. But he has worked on his patience and now started playing shots along the ground as well,” Lad concluded.