India bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur gave a brilliant match-winning performance with both bat and ball in the recently concluded Gabba Test, where team India scripted History by defeating Australia by 3 wickets.
Though Shardul made his Test debut against the West Indies back in the year 2018, however, the momentum occasion turned into a nightmare as he suffered a hamstring injury just after delivering 10 balls and he was eventually sidelined for two years.
After a wait of two years, Thakur got an opportunity in the unlikeliest of circumstances in the series-decider in Brisbane following an injury to India’s sensational Jasprit Bumrah. Thakur made full use of the opportunity and gave a brilliant performance. Not only he claimed seven wickets across both innings but he was also the top-scorer for team India in their first innings during a stunning 123-run-stand with Washington Sundar.
Shardul Thakur won everyone’s heart with the way he smashed Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. However, as per Thakur tackling these sensational bowlers was easier than getting a seat in a Mumbai local. Yes, you read that right.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, Shardul said: “Getting a seat in a (Mumbai local) train, it required skill and timing. Facing fast bowlers is much easier,”
He added:
“I always enjoy playing fast bowlers, I have never been scared of speed. Am not scared to face even 145 kmph plus. Maybe it’s because of how my cricketing career started. We have a ground in my village where my first few years of cricket were played on matting wickets. The pitch in Palghar had uneven bounce, so handling bounce came naturally to me. At the same time, I faced throwdown specialists regularly in the Indian team nets, so am used to playing pace,”
The Mumbai Cricketer also opened up about being away from his family for more than four months. He also expressed how the flight seemed very long and he just wanted to reach home ASAP after the series ended. He added:
“I missed my family, my home cooked food, my bed. When I came today my mother said ki kitna patlaa ho gaya hai tu. Khane ko nahi milta tha kya? It’s a line which any mother says. The day the series ended, I was just hoping that I will reach home soon. Suddenly the flight seemed very long, the drive home took very long too. I just wanted to reach home ASAP,”
