Ind vs Eng Tests: Is it justified for India to include so many all-rounders in playing XI?

Many experts have slammed Team India management for including so many all-rounders in the playing XI instead of specialists bowlers or batters in the current Test series against hosts England.

Recently, former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu has made a similar remark about the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the Test XI in Manchester.

"One area of problem, even if Shardul makes a fifty, at that number eight position, bits-and-pieces cricketers do well in one-day cricket, but in Test cricket, you always need specialists. If you could bring Shardul the bowler at number eight, then I would agree this is the right selection. You do not bowl him enough and then in order to increase the batting you compromise with your bowling," said Sidhu during a recent interaction.

"Bits-and-pieces cricketers, I don’t think will ever win you games abroad. Even Jadeja could not pick wickets in the first two Tests with the rough. Batting, fielding, as an all-rounder, par excellence. What is the purpose here? The guy at number eight, do you want him to give you five wickets or batting depth? If you want batting depth and that would win you games, then would those 200 runs (193 at Lord’s) not have been chased? If seven can’t do it, eight also won’t. I have been repeating this point time and again. I feel this is again a compromise, and I feel it will not go in favour of India," he added.