India, July 24 -- Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu didn't hold back as he criticised the move of bringing in Shardul Thakur into the playing XI for the Manchester Test. Labelling him a 'bits and pieces' cricketer, Sidhu said having such players in the starting XI won't help the side win many games abroad. The Mumbai all-rounder was included in the lineup after an injury ruled Nitish Kumar Reddy out of the remainder of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

India made three changes to their playing XI for the fourth Test, bringing in Sai Sudharsan, Shardul and Anshul Kamboj for Karun Nair, Nitish and Akash Deep.

At stumps on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, India's score read 264/4 with Jadeja and Shardul unbeaten on 19 each. However, Sidhu b...