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Shreyas Iyer declined West Zone captaincy in the Duleep Trophy, leading to Shardul Thakur's appointment. Iyer, anticipating an Asia Cup call-up, focused on white-ball training but was surprisingly excluded from the squad. Meanwhile, Thakur is expected to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, following Rahane's departure, after his strong red-ball performance and recent Test recall.

Following India's Test defeat against England, Sanjay Manjrekar suggests a bowling lineup change. He wants Kuldeep Yadav to replace Shardul Thakur. Manjrekar highlights the need for quality spinners in the team. He notes that English conditions are now favorable for spin bowling. Manjrekar also expects more tactical awareness from Ravindra Jadeja, especially on pitches offering assistance.

Former India player Ajinkya Rahane has suggested that captain Shubman Gill should utilise Shardul Thakur's bowling skills more effectively. Rahane believes Thakur, an experienced all-rounder, can be a valuable asset if given more opportunities. He proposed specific strategies to maximise Thakur's impact, including using him as a first-change bowler.