Former Indian cricket team batter Robin Uthappa has expressed his concerns over fast bowler Shardul Thakur’s selection for the Cricket World Cup 2023. Uthappa, who played alongside Shardul in the Chennai Super Kings IPL team, acknowledged his ability to take wickets but highlighted his tendency to have a high economy rate. Despite this concern, Shardul’s strong batting skills could make him a valuable asset for the Indian team, potentially replacing Mohammed Siraj or Mohammed Shami. Uthappa emphasized the need for Shardul to focus on stopping runs in addition to his wicket-taking prowess. Uthappa also backed Ravichandran Ashwin to be included in the World Cup squad if Axar Patel is unable to participate due to injury, praising the veteran spinner’s skills and deceptiveness.