IPL 2023: Don't think fitness was a concern for Shardul not to bowl, says Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Specialist seam bowler Shardul Thakur not being given a single over in KKR’s seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans on Saturday raised eye-brows but opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz said that fitness might not be the issue. Asked if fitness was a concern for Shardul, Gurbaz said: “If you are not fit enough, then you will not play. It might be that the team doesn’t need him to bowl. The captain knows it better.” Making a comeback after a niggle, Shardul was promotd in batting order at No. 3 as a pinch hitter, a move that did not work as he capped a four-ball duck. Read More: TATA IPL 2023: Inexperienced players not behind DC's failure, says Mitchell Marsh after losing to SRH “The coach and management know better than me. I can’t say anything on this,” said Gurbaz. “This might be a special plan. They might have discussed before the game. He might have liked to bat in the top-order”. Picked in India’s World Test Championship Final-bound squad against Australia, Shardul has played six of KKR’s nine matches, in which he has bowled just 11.5 overs. “He might not have been fit enough to bowl. I can’t say anything on this. Coaches and captain know better than me,” the Afghan opener insisted. Read all the Latest News, Trending News,  Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.