As with all compeditive matches of late, this match showed the value of all aspects of the game.
The catching, especially from India was a complete cluster****, and undoubtedly cost them the game.
The lower order batting wasn't exactly helpful, but they did select Thakur for his batting and it was an equal disaster in terms of him failing and being a down grade on any other possible bowling option.
Every team needs a viable 5th if not also 6th bowling option. It's a non negotiable for multiple reasons. They don't have to be a Miller or Sobers, but can't be a liability or someone you're reluctant to bowl.
You need specialists slips, as I heard Broad say today, it's hard enough trying to take 20 wickets far less 26. You need at least two guys who can turn half chances into wickets and of course take the regulation ones as well.
When you're 6 wickets down while chasing victory or trying to salvage a draw, everyone wants that guy at 8 who can hold on with the bat. There's no doubting the value of a legit no. 8 coming in after the keeper and protecting the tail.
As with all things, it's about balance. Do you lean batting or bowling at no. 6, with only 4 specialist bowlers, how much do you sacrifice bowling for extra runs? How much is good enough at each position? I don't need the deepest tail any more than I would force the perfect cordon.
Down to personal preference no doubt.
With regards to those preferences, the gradient / weighting of skill needed for each of those are different for each position. So, in order...
First comes the 5 / 6th bowling options. No need to be as good as the primary options, your job is to facilitate the rotation, rest for the primary 4 and take on the dog overs. Be solid, reliable and don't release pressure. While not ideal or preferable, the part timer can possibly be, and have most often been utilized here with minimal disruption.
The bowler at 8 / 9 should be able to hold the fort as required, be that batting with the remaining batsman or the tail, or leading the counter if required. No way should a bunny be at 8, but with 7 batsmen ahead of you, it's also not specialist level.
To maximize your attack, your cordon, or at least a couple of it's occupants have to be specialists. Anything less and you're dropping as much as you're catching, and yours losing matches. The entry skill level is going to be higher than the other two at their secondary disciplines.
So while we can argue forever on the merits of each, or the prioritizing of talent, or most essentially, which contributes more consistently, and I've certainly made my arguments for such... There's no doubt that each are vital at some point to the success of a team and / or to winning.
And at the end of the day, that was basically the point of this exercise. We can't pretend one doesn't exist, can be plastered over, or denigrated with semantics.
