Transition To India Senior Team Easier From A Side Tours: Shardul Thakur

Jan 17, 2021 at 4:26 PM

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Transition To India Senior Team Easier From A Side Tours: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, Indian pacer on Sunday said that players who had represented the ‘A’ side now have experience of playing in overseas conditions before making it to the national squad.

The Ajinkya Rahane-led side was bundled out for 336 in the first innings of the ongoing fourth Test at the Gabba and as a result, Australia gained a 33-run lead.

Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Shardul Thakur: A Tours Meant To Give Experience And Helped A Lot As Transition Isn’t Difficult

India, at one stage, found themselves reeling at 186/6 after losing set batsmen Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant, Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Ajinkya Rahane but all-rounders Shardul Thakur (67) and Washington Sundar (62) got together at the crease to form a crucial 123-run stand that helped the team get closer to Australia’s first innings total.

“A-Tours are meant to give experience to your second lineup. It has helped a lot, we were here in 2016 and we played at the Allan Border Field. We played four-day games there, pitch there is different, but at least you are used to Australian conditions, when you take that leap from India A to the senior side, the transition is not that difficult, it is all about how you execute at the senior level,” said Shardul Thakur during the post-match press conference.

Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar. Image Credit: Twitter.

At stumps, Australia ended the day at 21/0 and the hosts extended their lead to 54. David Warner (20*) and Marcus Harris (1*) remained unbeaten for the hosts.

“I have the talent for batting, whenever there are throw downs taking place in nets, I practice my batting, these are the type of moments for which we practice our batting. An opportunity presented itself in this match, I knew that the team would benefit if I stay at the crease for a long haul. I haven’t batted with Sundar much, I have just batted with him once or twice, once it was in a T20 match and once it was a practice game,” Shardul Thakur.

“Both of us have that temperament to succeed at this level, honestly we were not looking at the scoreboard, the idea was to spend some time in the middle.

“We knew their bowlers were tiring, it was a matter of one hour, if we hung in there for one more hour then probably we would be on the top as the bowlers were already tiring. Both of us were communicating really well in the middle, if someone was losing control or trying a rash shot, we were immediately communicating that let’s get back to normal,” he added.

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur registered their half-centuries on day three of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane. Both batsmen also registered the highest seventh-wicket partnership for India at the Gabba, Brisbane. The duo joined forces at the crease when India was in a spot of bother at 186/6. The duo mixed caution with aggression and both batsmen were up to the task of capitalizing on the loose balls.

Shardul Thakur: Trying To Defend While Waiting For Chance To Put Loose Delivery Away As Want To Give 100% For Team

Shardul Thakur got to his maiden Test half-century with a six finishing on 67 while Washington Sundar wasn’t far behind scoring 62 on debut as the duo negotiated short balls.

Further talking about the 123-run stand with Sundar, Shardul Thakur said: “We were trying to defend a lot, as our partnership went on, we know there is some true bounce here at Gabba, we were just waiting for our chance, whenever there was a loose delivery, we were trying to put that away.

“It is a long tour, as a player, it is challenging to stay motivated and do well in the last game, the series is tied at 1-1, this game turns out to be the series decider so you do not need extra motivation, it is about giving 100 per cent for the team.”

Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur
Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur

“Australian players were trying to have a conversation with me, but I was not replying. I just replied once or twice, there were a lot of normal questions, even if they were trying to sledge me, I did not hear it, I just played on” he added.

Shardul Thakur also said that he always remembered coach Ravi Shastri’s words that people remember how players perform in Australia.

“When I walked in, the situation was difficult. The crowd was cheering for Australian bowlers, they were on top at that point in time, but I remember our coach Ravi Shastri saying right at the start of the white-ball series, he said if you perform in this country, you will be rewarded and people will love you for your performances. That one thing was also in my mind that if I perform here it will help my team and people will love me,” Shardul Thakur maintained.

After Washington Sundar who scored 62 and Shardul Thakur who scored 67 perished, India were dismissed for 336 to trail by 33 runs. Australia have extended their lead to 54 runs as they are 21 for no loss at stumps on 3rd day.

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