Ravi Shastri slams star India pacer after poor show in 1st Test against South Africa

South Africa defeated India in the 1st Test at the Supersport Park, Centurion on Thursday. The Men in Blue performed poorly in the Rainbow nation and they lost the game by an innings and 32 runs. Except for Jasprit Bumrah, no other bowler had the impact in the longest format of the game. He was the one bowler who picked four wickets in the first innings and troubled the Proteas batter a bit. 

Shardul Thakur has come under scrutiny for his dreadful bowling during India's innings loss to South Africa in the Centurion Test. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has lashed out at the bowling all-rounder, as he finished with a 1/101 economy rate, making him the most costly bowler out of the five. Shardul had an unremarkable game. His batting was also poor as he failed to have an impact in both innings. 

It was a contrast as he was a star performer, in the last tour, in the 2021-22 season, where he took 7/61, at Johannesburg. The Men in Blue need to think of a replacement for Mohammed Shami who has been brilliant across formats for the side. Avesh Khan has been added to the test squad for the 2nd Test match. 

India lacked experience in their bowling attack: Ravi Shastri

Shastri said "India lacked experience in their bowling attack. They’ve got two of them who are reasonably experienced - Bumrah and Siraj - but they missed Shami big time. Shardul Thakur is not a baby, but he is the 4th seamer. You need a proper third seamer and that makes a massive difference overseas."

"The thing is you want to see his First-Class record. Can he bowl long spells? Has he played a lot of Ranji Trophy cricket? I would in fact go and make him play a lot of it, Ranji and First-Class cricket and keep him in the mix because if someone can swing it like he did with the white ball in South Africa, he could be a handy customer."