The Indian fast bowler, Shardul Thakur said that players who had represented the ‘India A’ side are now paying rich dividends after gaining experience of playing in overseas conditions before making it to the national squad. India was bundled out for 336 in the first innings as hosts took a 33-run lead based on the first innings in the fourth Test at the Gabba.

At one stage, the Indian team was reeling behind having lost six wickets for 186 runs but Shardul Thakur (67) and Washington Sundar (62) stitched together a huge partnership of 123 runs for the seventh wicket, bringing India back in the game.

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During the post-day press-conference, Shardul Thakur said, “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.”

At the end of Day 3, Australia reached 21 for no loss, extending their lead to 54 runs. David Warner (20*) and Marcus Harris (1*) are currently unbeaten for the hosts.

Explaining his knock, Shardul Thakur said, “I have the talent for batting, whenever there are throwdowns taking place in nets, I practice my batting. I knew that the team would benefit if I stay at the crease for the 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. Both of us were communicating really well in the middle.”

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

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Thakur recalled, “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.”