Shaun Pollock was in awe of pacer Shardul Thakur after the all-rounder recorded the best figures by an Asian in South Africa – 7/61 – in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Shardul Thakur, called to bowl after 37 overs, brandished his Golden Arm to break two crucial partnerships and give the visitors vital breakthroughs at just the right moments. His marathon spell of about 18 overs was a mix of consistency and variety and helped India restrict South Africa to a first-innings lead of just 27.
Shaun Pollock: There Must Be A Self Belief In Shardul Thakur’s Performances
Jumping on the trend wagon of the cricket fraternity, former Proteas pacer Shaun Pollock explained that “Lord” Shardul Thakur’s wicket-taking ability is rooted in his self-belief, his use of the bowling crease, a solid game plan, and almost a “magical desire” to succeed.
Shaun Pollock said: “There must be a self-belief in #LordThakur (chuckles), with the way he’s performed. And a brilliant 7/61… I think just his angle on the crease was the key to his success here. From wide, he was angling in and getting it to shape away, and then if it didn’t do that, it would sort of nip back and get the batters to play at it.”
Shaun Pollock added: “His game plan was pretty good, he didn’t mix it up too much, there was the odd short delivery thrown in but he just kept running in almost like he had this magical or real desire to try and prove a point…”
Speaking in the same video, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said he has a “special place” in his heart for Shardul Thakur. He said he has admired the fast-bowler since his state cricket days for Mumbai, where he had a similar knack for breaking partnerships and went on to become lead pacer along with Dhawal Kulkarni.
Dinesh Karthik added to Shaun Pollock’s points, saying: “I have a special place for him in my heart only because as a domestic player he’s played 60-70 matches for Bombay [Mumbai] which has done phenomenally well… Obviously, he started as the third bowler but went on to become their lead bowler along with Dhawal Kulkarni and did brilliantly well for them.”
“He was the guy who used to pick up wickets early, partnership breaker there as well, so he’s used to this. And just his attitude – I mean, if you just look at him and look at the skills of a Bumrah or a Shami, you go ‘Wow, what’s so special about him?’ But I think his specialty is his self-confidence.”
This was also Shardul Thakur’s maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket. Five of his wickets were South Africa’s top and middle-order batters, with two of them – Keegan Petersen and Temba Bavuma – half-centurions and the top-scorers of the 1st innings of the Proteas. After his brilliant spell, India lost two wickets but raced to 85-2 (lead of 58) before stumps.
Shaun Pollock: It Will Be A Really Big Ask For South African Team If India Set A Target Of 220 Plus
Looking ahead on Day 3, Shaun Pollock said South Africa will come with a “different” approach – probably a more circumspect one as the bowlers leaked quite a few runs trying to be aggressive. He feels that a target of 220 or more should be defendable for India on a pitch that will only misbehave more and more.
Shaun Pollock said: “I think South Africa’s approach will be a lot different. I think India would go in a lot happier than they would have [expected] after the partnership, the rate at which they scored the runs and the 58 they have on the board. It’s going to be interesting. The wicket is going to continue misbehaving… I think if India can set anything more than 220-225 and up to 250, it will be a really big ask of South Africa to try and knock that off.”
Shardul Thakur marked his best figures with the red-ball, taking as many as seven wickets conceding just 61 runs during South Africa’s first innings. He delivered whenever stand-in skipper KL Rahul called upon him and got India back into the game with his breakthroughs. Shardul Thakur has so far played 6 Tests picking 23 scalps averaging 19.17 besides amassing 204 runs with 3 fifties averaging 25.5.
Shardul Thakur’s seven-wicket haul however couldn’t stop South Africa from taking a 27-run first-innings lead but India started their second innings positively and was 85 for 2 – ahead by 58 – at stumps on day two of the second Test in Johannesburg.
India 202 and 85 for 2 (Pujara 35*, Rahane 11*, Jansen 1-18) lead South Africa 229 (Petersen 62, Bavuma 51, Thakur 7-61) by 58 runs