Shardul Thakur got the nod ahead of the in-form Deepak Chahar in the eleven for the first ODI against South Africa on Thursday in Lucknow, even though in Zimbabwe it was the latter who was preferred when both were fit and available.
Nonetheless, Thakur, who is out of India’s T20 team currently and missed the selection for the T20 World Cup, struck twice early in the first ODI against South Africa.
The match was curtailed to 40-overs-a-side after the rain had delayed the play for two hours. India’s stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and elected to bowl first in what was foreseen as bowling-friendly conditions.
It was also a tad surprising to not see Thakur take the new ball as Avesh Khan bowled with the new ball from one end, with Mohammed Siraj from the other. Avesh and Siraj kept things tight as South African openers, Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock, managed only 28 runs in this shortened game, however, India remained wicketless.
Coming on as the first change, Shardul Thakur straightaway provided an opportunity, nicking off Malan, but Shubman Gill dropped the catch at first slip.
Not being dejected by the dropped catch, Thakur kept pegging and on the first ball of his third over, he elicited another false shot from Malan, and this time Shreyas Iyer took the catch at mid-wicket off Malan’s flick on a ball that stuck in the surface. Thakur bowled a wicket-maiden that over.
Shardul struck in his very next over, this time castling Temba Bavuma, the South African skipper, with a jaffa to which Bavuma had no answer. A delivery on length that seamed back in sharply and big had Bavuma moving his front foot forward and luring into a drive. However, the batter was undone by the big movement and the ball went through the gap between his pad and bat to crash into the off-stump.
Netizens went wild as Shardul Thakur provided India with their first two wickets in Lucknow. And it was no surprise that ‘Lord Shardul’ was once again trending.
Here are some of the best tweets on Shardul Thakur giving India early breakthroughs in the first ODI vs South Africa:
Shardul Thakur is requesting scorer to not count Bavuma’s wicket in his column. Doesn’t go by his reputation.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur breaks the partnership once again! pic.twitter.com/hY4l7wUMvQ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 6, 2022
Partnership breaker of Team India – Shardul Thakur.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur won’t bother you if you don’t bother his team.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 6, 2022
Most wickets between overs 11-40 in ODIs for India since the start of 2020:
Shardul Thakur – 23
Yuzvendra Chahal – 22
Prasidh Krishna – 16LORD for a reason.
— Naman Agarwal (@CoverDrivenFor4) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur keeps taking wickets.. inevitable
— `R (@ryandesa_7) October 6, 2022
You want a wicket? You call Shardul Thakur 📱
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) October 6, 2022
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Trust Lord Thakur to break the partnership 😉👑 #INDvSA
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 6, 2022
Golden Arm : Shardul thakur❤
He is savior of Rest of indian team!!#shardulthakur . #indvssa . @imShard pic.twitter.com/UTMSSNTayR— 𝒮𝓊𝒷𝒽𝒶𝓈𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒🕊 (@subhu__RO45) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur wicket maiden over
Believe on Lord Shardul Supermacy
Meanwhile fans right now..💪#shardulthakur #LordShardul #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/S9sqjAxojV— 🌟 Indomitable Spirit 🌟 (@imAshutosh08) October 6, 2022
Lord Shardul 🔥 Thakur 🛐 !! What a delivery ….#INDvsSA #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/S1ox0rIkJN
— 🦋 Mee23 🙂 🦋 (@2_Meenu23) October 6, 2022
Lord Thakur strikes. Gave a crucial breakthrough, yet again 🔥♥️ #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/s3xd9pfk2B
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) October 6, 2022
