The Indian all-rounder, Shardul Thakur has always managed to find a way of taking wickets at crucial junctures and breaking partnerships and he did just that for India once again. He ran through South Africa’s batting line-up in the ongoing second Test to bring India back in the game. With Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami being in the ranks, Thakur didn’t get the ball till the 38th over.
Stand-in Indian skipper KL Rahul introduced Shardul Thakur just before lunch on Day 2 and the pacer came out all guns blazing. He took three wickets in no time as the Proteas team suffered a shocking batting collapse. Thakur even went on to take a five-wicket haul, earning praises from different corners.
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Interestingly, Thakur was considered as the weakest cog of India’s bowling attack in this match. However, he silenced his critics with a top-class spell. Even the veteran Indian spinner, R Ashwin was left perplexed by Shardul’s brilliant spell. Thakur made debutant Kyle Verreynne his fourth victim of the innings and Ashwin took a hilarious dig at the bowler.
Ashwin said, “Yarra nee, engendhu da pudichanga unna? Nee ball potaale wicket vizhum,” Ashwin said in Tamil which roughly translates to: “Who are you? Wicket falls if you just bowl.”
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The spinner’s remarks were recorded in the stump microphone and went viral in no time. Fans were left in splits as even the sharp-minded Ashwin couldn’t decode the reason behind the stellar performance. Meanwhile, former South African pacer Morne Morkel reckons Proteas batters got a bit complacent against Thakur.
Just was about to tag you😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WGf0WEL0dP
— Jacob Richard (@jacobrich07) January 4, 2022
Ashwin to Thakur (in stump mic) "Who are you? Wicket falls if you just bowl…".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 4, 2022
During a chat on Star Sports, Morne Morkel said, “South Africa absorbed the pressure and the key was to fight through the first hour, get through Shami and Bumrah, and there on you can get the scoring options. You could see Siraj was only bowling at 50 per cent. The table was set for South Africa but the game changes so quickly. You can’t lose concentration for a second as Shardul Thakur came and broke open the South African top-order.”
