India allrounder Shardul Thakur has said that if selectors see that someone has quality, the player should be given more opportunities, hitting out at the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, who didn't pick him for any of India's Test assignments despite complete fitness for months now. He produced a rearguard act to save Mumbai from utter embarrassment against Jammu and Kashmir at home.

Thakur came to Mumbai’s rescue once again with the bat, hitting five boundaries and two sixes to make 51 off 57 deliveries and dragging them to 120 all out from a precarious 47/7.

Thakur's exploits in Mumbai at the BKC Ground served as a reminder of his maiden first-class hundred in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in 2024 when he hit a 105-ball 109 with 13 boundaries and four sixes while batting at no. 9 against Tamil Nadu.

“What can I talk about my quality? Others should talk about it. They should see that if someone has quality, he should be given more chances," Thakur told the media at the end of the day's play.

“I like batting in difficult situations. In easy situations, everyone does well, but how you put up the show in adverse situations matters. I see tough situations as a challenge and always think about how to overcome that challenge," Thakur added.

Thakur got a setback in the Indian Premier League mega auction in December when he went unsold. But for him, 'forgetting the past' is critical.

“You have to forget whatever has happened in the past; it is not going to change. It is important to be in the present and think about what you can do shortly," Thakur said.

The India allrounder, although not having been part of the Test setup for over a year now, defended skipper Rohit Sharma who flopped massively on his Ranji Trophy comeback, saying that his passion for Mumbai cricket remains intact.

“He is always passionate about Mumbai cricket. Any Mumbaikar, the way we have seen hardships growing up as teenagers playing Maidan cricket, everyone is so passionate about Mumbai cricket that even if they're playing for India, they follow what (the) Mumbai team is doing," Thakur said.

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