new Delhi: In the Brisbane Test between India and Australia (IND vs AUS), Shardul Thakur has won everyone’s heart with his all-round performance. But very few people know that their first level of cricketing experience behind this success is what came in handy.
About 8 years ago, when Shardul Thakur made his first class debut, the Mumbai team also had legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan. Although these three veterans did not visit Jaipur for that match with Rajasthan, but they played in the first match of the season for Mumbai against Railways.
Also read- IND vs AUS Brisbane Test: Why did Jasprit Bumrah hug Mohammed Siraj?
Sachin and Zaheer were to join the Indian team for the Test series to be held with England. Shardul’s school friend Rohit Sharma was captain in the Jaipur match but Shardul could not grab that opportunity with both hands. He was able to take only one wicket and later he was removed from the team.
Mumbai however called him back into the team in the same season. In the semi-final, Shardul took 3 wickets against Services. Mumbai also trusted him in the next season and he wrote a new success story taking 27 wickets. Shardul has never looked back since then.
After spending 6 years in first class, Shardul played his first Test match in October 2018 and in that match against West Indies, he was seen limping only after bowling 10 balls. However, Thakur has now shown his true talent. On Monday, he became the first Indian player to take 7 or more wickets against Australia and put a fifty.
Dinesh Lad, who trained Rohit and Shardul during school time, said, ‘A few years back he used to be very fat and bowled directionlessly. I asked him to run on sand. After this Shardul started working on his fitness.
He was disappointed that Kings XI Punjab did not give him a chance in the IPL. I told him that there is no need to be disappointed. Work on your strong side. You are practicing at the top level.
Lad believes that today’s Shardul’s success is the result of his hard work in domestic cricket. Domestic cricket helps in making a player’s temperament. Restraint is required to play at the top level and Shardul has got this restraint from domestic cricket.
In the Brisbane Test, Shardul took 4 important wickets in Australia’s second innings in addition to playing 67 runs for India. Shardul took the wickets of Marcus Harris, Cameron Green, Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon.
(Input-IANS)
.