IPL 2023: 'Dear KKR, Why!' Twitter slams KKR for not bowling Shardul Thakur

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings in a thriller on Monday (May 8) at the Eden Gardens in a crucial IPL 2023 encounter.

The Knights bowled first after the PBKS skipper won the toss. After batting, the visitors managed 179/7 in their 20 overs. But it was another match when KKR skipper Nitish Rana didn't use Shardul Thakur. KKR won the match at the end by people slammed KKR for underusing Thakur in the match.

Shardul, KKR's 10-crore trade player, has bowled only 15 overs in this IPL season. The handy all-rounder's role with the ball has been immensely limited and it was the same on Monday, as the former Chennai Super Kings player wasn't given the ball.

KKR's two inexperienced pacers Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana went for plenty and conceded 36 runs in the last two overs. And amid that, not using Shardul Thakur baffled the fans and some of the experts.

Thakur had a bowl in the last match against SRH and played a significant part in their win. He picked up 2 important wickets and got them back in the game. And that confused the netizen more. Why an experienced Indian bowler was not given the ball and rather KKR used two inexperienced youngsters at the crunch overs?

Twitter slammed Kolkata Knight Riders for underusing Shardul. Here are some of the tweets-

IPL commentator and expert Harsha Bhogle was seriously in doubt 'what was wrong' with Shardul Thakur. He hoped Shardul and Umesh Yadav are in the nets practising with the Red ball. Both are in the Indian squad for the upcoming WTC Final next month.

I would love to know what is going on in Shardul Thakur's mind just now. Bowled 15 overs, batted 61 balls this year. Hope him and Umesh are practising with a red ball.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 8, 2023

Another IPL commentator and expert Aakash Chopra hilariously said he hopes the Indian all-rounder will bat at no. 3 for KKR. Although it hasn't happened.

Shardul Thakur must be batting at 3 tonight.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 8, 2023

Another fan here believes Shardul Thakur is playing only as a batter for KKR. Probably the Knights will use him lower down the order to win it for them.

Shardul Thakkur is playing again as a specialist batsmen.He was also instrumental in his team winning the last match with an analysis of 3-0-23-2.Good to have a 2 dimensional player who can get into the team as a batsmen or bowler.

— Prasanna (@prasannalara) May 8, 2023

Another Twitter user mentioned KKR in the Tweet and asked why Shardul Thakur was not used in the final overs. Could he have gone for more? We don't think so.

Hello , @KKRiders @NitishRana_27 @VenkyMysore
Last 2 over 36 runs!!! Vaibhav and H.rana
Where is Shardul !!!!!
POOR CAPTAINCY.

Lost momentum 👎

FOOOOOOL

— eshan chowdhury (@chowdhury_eshan) May 8, 2023

This user slammed KKR for not using their player. And we can't blame him that much.

The way KKR has used Shardul Thakur this season is a lesson in how NOT to best use a player in the IPL.#KKRvsPBKS #IPL2023

— Vibhor (@dhotedhulwate) May 8, 2023

KKR captain Nitish Rana was blamed for his strange captaincy. Rana kept his faith in Harshit Rana and Arora over Shardul, and paid the price.

Still wondering why KKR didn't bring Shardul Thakur to bowl when Punjab were losing wickets after wickets. Strange captaincy by Rana. #KKRvsPBKS #IPL2023

— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) May 8, 2023

This user was angrier and didn't spare the Knight Riders management with his tweet.

"Shardul Ko fielding karane k liye liya tha?" (You picked Shardul just for fielding?), he asked with anguish. And then mentioned KKR captain Nitish Rana as 'clown'.

.@KKRiders - Shardul Ko fielding karane k liye liya tha? Tell me this is not fixed? Kya farak padta hai, franchisee ka paisa toh bann raha hai.

That”s why Jokers Like “NR” didn’t deserve any place in the National side. Morons.#IPL2O23 #KKRvPBKS pic.twitter.com/luewWEeaeH

— Ind_Speaks 🇮🇳 (@IndiaSpeaks_31) May 8, 2023