SUPERSUB: Don't pick Pandey & Thakur in your fantasy cricket teams for the Wankhede Test

THE INJURIES continue to play havoc in the ongoing Test series between India and England. Just when the hosts looked like stamping their authority on the visitors, heading into the Mumbai Test, they have been dealt with a few crucial blows. 

Premier batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been ruled out of his home Test with a finger injury and chances are that he might even miss the final Test. On the other hand, seamer Mohammad Shami too is carrying soreness in his knee and remains in doubt for tomorrow’s game. 

The Indian selectors have called batsman Manish Pandey and pacer Shardul Thakur into the side and it remains to be seen if the duo make the cut in the playing 11. 

Regardless of whether they play or not, we think you would do well to ignore both of them as far as fantasy cricket is concerned. 

Manish Pandey

The 27-year-old was given a decent run in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand, but he failed to grab the opportunity. Although he might have scored (75, 58, 20, 35) in his last two Ranji games, there is no guarantee that he will find a place in the middle order tomorrow. Karun Nair, who was given a chance in Mohali might be presented with another chance. Furthermore, even if Pandey plays, there is no logic in wasting your budget on him ahead of the marquee Indian batsmen. 

Shardul Thakur

The 24-year-old seamer went to the Caribbean but could not make his debut. We feel, the Mumbai lad will only be warming the bench at Wankhede and you shouldn’t be wasting time or budget picking him. Also, if Shami gets injured, the likes of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar or Ishant Sharma will come into the starting 11.