Shardul Thakur delivered a match-winning performance of two fifties and three wickets as India registered a brilliant win against England to go 2-1 up in the five-match Test series.
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The Indian cricket team was staring down the barrel at 127/7 on day 1 of the Oval Test against England. But, Shardul Thakur decided to change the entire complexion of the match. The Mumbai right-hander smashed 57 off just 36 balls which included seven fours and three sixes. His fastest fifty and his 63-run stand with Jasprit Bumrah helped India reach 191. Similar to Lord’s, the Indian tail had wagged at a crucial time.
With the ball, Thakur got the big wicket of Ollie Pope in the first innings but England took a lead of 99. In the second innings, Thakur and Rishabh Pant shared a 100-run stand to put the game out of England’s reach. With England chasing 368, Thakur dealt England two body blows. He first broke the 100-run opening run stand when he had the wicket of Rory Burns. But, it was his wicket of Joe Root for 36 that broke the back of the England batting and gave India a 157-run win.
With his all-rround exploits, social media exploded with praise and memes hailing him ‘Lord Thakur’. He was desperately unlucky to have missed out on a Man of the Match award but he reveled in his match-winning performance for the team.
Speaking to bcci.tv after the end of the match, Thakur had explained his plans while being interviewed by Umesh Yadav. “It feels great. The day I got to know I am playing the game, I planned on creating an impact in this game. I wanted to create such an impact that I have to make useful and winning contributions for the team. On Day 5, with this result, I am very happy that I could contribute more than 100 runs and three wickets in the game. I always believed that I had the ability to bat. In the nets, there was enough time to bat. I think these are the small little things I have done in the nets,” Thakur said.
Even Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team skipper, hailed the way how Thakur changed the entire course of the game.
“What Shardul has done in this game stands out. His two fifties deflated the opposition. I think he batted well in both innings. We never go towards analysis, statistics, and numbers. We know what we need to focus on and we take a collective decision as a group,” Kohli stated.
During the Brisbane Test against Australia, Thakur combined with Washington Sundar to rescue India from a precarious position. With the ball, he teamed up brilliantly with Mohammed Siraj to put Australia under pressure. His performance at the Gabba heralded him as the next bowling all-rounder star. At The Oval, Thakur’s pivotal contributions ensured England did not run away with the game. Instead, he swung the momentum totally in India’s favour.
In the space of nine months, Thakur has been part of two epic wins for India in Brisbane and at The Oval. The Indian cricket team is now winning away on a consistent basis. The bench strength of the side is now simply awesome. No one is now missing Hardik Pandya, with Thakur admirably stepping up and delivering great wins.
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