Shardul Thakur claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket to push South Africa on the back foot in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg while leading India’s remarkable turnaround after being bowled out for 202.
The 30-year-old pacer started by breaking the hosts’ early resistance moving skipper Dean Elgar for 28 and triggering the fall of wickets. Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen put on 74 for the second wicket before the pacer removed the former.
Shardul Thakur Was A Chief Architect Of India’s Win At Gabba In Australia And At Oval In England: Sunil Gavaskar
The Indian pace all-rounder then had Keegan Petersen caught at second slip for an impressive 62. Shardul Thakur added third under his name at the stroke of lunch by dismissing Rassie van der Dussen for one. Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynn added 60 for the fifth wicket before falling prey to Shardul Thakur who became the sixth Indian to have a Test fifer in Johannesburg and legendary Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for the bowling all-rounder.
Sunil Gavaskar highlighted Shardul Thakur’s knack for getting wickets and his performances in Australia and England. Shardul Thakur was India’s top-scorer in the Gabba Test where 67 while batting at the No. 8 position. He also snared seven wickets to play a key role in India’s historic series win at the venue. In England at the Oval, Shardul Thakur became the sixth cricketer in Test history to score half-centuries in both innings, while batting at 8.
“When Bumrah and Shami were not available to play, he not only got seven wickets but also a half-century to his name. He was one of the chief architects behind India’s win at the Gabba. And in England, there were occasions when the Indian team didn’t post many runs. He came in and smashed half-centuries in both innings. He’s also kept picking two odd wickets in each innings,” said Sunil Gavaskar during Day 2 of the ongoing second Test.
When Shardul Thakur led his teammates off the field, he had 7 for 61 next to his name, and India had limited South Africa’s lead to 27. Shardul Thakur recorded the best-ever figures by an Indian against South Africa in the longest format of the game. Shardul Thakur was on a song with the ball, as he dismissed Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi.
Shardul Thakur Always Gives His 100% As He Is The Kind Of Player One Wants In Team: Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar also underlined the effort that Shardul Thakur puts on the field, making him a player who would be welcomed by any team he signs up for.
“He is just the kind of player you want in your team. He gives his 100 per cent. He knows he is not going to always be a certainty and hence, the trying never stops. He understands what he needs to do and gives it all every time without any complaints.”
“A batter is facing Shami & Bumrah and he suddenly is up against a bowler (Shardul) who is 5-10 kmph slower. He can think to score some runs but Shardul bowls just around the off-stump and gets the ball to move away. Bavuma was down the pitch even before the ball was released and Shardul smartly bowled is short. He fully deserves his five-wicket haul as he’s such a great trier,” he further added.
India has taken a lead of 203 runs as they are placed at 230/8 on the 3rd Day. Shardul Thakur scored a vital 28 while under fire Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara scored the much-needed fifties. Cheteshwar Pujara (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (58), who started the day’s proceedings for India, got out after scoring half-centuries.