Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has shared his views after his maiden first-class hundred, which he smashed in the Ranji Trophy 2024 semi-finals against Tamil Nadu. The all-rounder said that it was a massive relief for him to reach the three-figure mark. With Mumbai slipping to 106-7 at one stage in reply to Tamil Nadu’s 146, Thakur steadied the ship with Hardik Tamore to push their lead past the 200-run mark. The duo shared a 105-run stand, with Thakur reaching his ton in the 81st over with a six as well.

Speaking to reporters after the day’s play, he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, “I did a celebration which came to mind. Scoring a century is a big, big relief. Besides, it was very important for the team at that point of time. In big games if you are scared then you tend to lose the wickets or performance might not come your way. So I might as well play with freedom and that was the whole idea when I started batting.”

Following Shardul Thakur’s dismissal, Tanush Kotian kept the scoreboard ticking as he remained unbeaten on 74. He still has Tushar Deshpande for company as the pair have put on an unbroken 79 as well.

“You have to see that with Yashasvi playing for India now, Sarfaraz also being selected. And Prithvi who has just come back from injury, there was a big hollow (vacuum) which was created in the Mumbai batting lineup in top order. And Ajinkya probably is not in that good form right now. So there is a big hollow in the top order. So it’s okay if you are going to have these kinds of seasons. But the good thing the runs are coming lower down the order. And it also shows the grit Mumbai players have and Khadoos attitude that we talk about that Mumbai has,” Shardul Thakur concluded.