Shardul Thakur has continued his good form in the ODI format by taking a three-wicket haul in a match-winning cause during the second ODI vs Zimbabwe on Saturday in Harare.
Thakur had picked up 7 wickets in 3 ODIs in the West Indies. But the return of Deepak Chahar meant that Thakur was pushed to the bench for the first ODI vs Zimbabwe; Chahar had delivered a Man of the Match worthy performance in the first ODI – 3/27 in 7 overs – but Chahar was rested from the second ODI as he was coming off a long injury layoff.
An opportunity for Shardul Thakur in the second match and the Palghar pacer grabbed it with both hands – claiming figures of 3/38 in 7 overs helping India bowl out the hosts for a paltry total of 161, which the batters chased down with 5 wickets in hand and 24 overs to spare.
Shardul Thakur is Team India’s ‘Golden Arm’
Over the past couple of years, Shardul Thakur has gained a reputation of having a knack for picking up big wickets, breaking partnerships and turning the momentum in India’s favour, earning the moniker of Team India’s ‘Golden Arm’.
After India’s victory, which meant they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-ODI series, pacer Mohammed Siraj queried Thakur about his incredible ability to consistently give the team breakthroughs.
“Hamesha aap aate hai to breakthrough dilaate hai. Yeh kya raaz hai? (You provide breakthrough whenever you arrive to bowl. What’s the secret?),” Siraj asked Shardul in a video for BCCI.TV.
Smilingly, Shardul responded with an epic reply which has now gone viral among fans on social media. Thakur said, “Koshish to hamesha wicket nikaalne ki rehti hai. Bhagwaan ka bhi thoda rehem hai ke wickets mil rahe (I always try to get a wicket. God has been kind).”
You can watch the video here, uploaded by the BCCI:
From the secret behind wicket-taking ability to letting the ball rip
On the mic with @imShard & @mdsirajofficial after #TeamIndia‘s victory in the 2⃣nd ODI against Zimbabwe.
Full interview
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2022
Speaking about his bowling, Shardul, who came as a first-change after Siraj and Prasidh Krishna shared the new ball duties, said he had been watching the lengths and lines of the two pacers and assessed the conditions according to that before he came on to bowl.
“I saw your bowling lengths before I came in to bowl. I discovered the right length that would trouble the batters here. My plan was simple,” Shardul explained.
The third ODI, a dead rubber, will be played on Monday.
