In the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locked horns with each other at the PCA stadium in Mohali. Some players are known for their unique personalities on the field, KKR all-rounder, Shardul Thakur is one such character. He smashed a first-ball six on his KKR debut on Saturday and it can easily be termed as one of the shots of the tournament.
Shardul Thakur had a terrible outing with the ball in hand in the first innings of the game. The Indian all-rounder had returned expensive figures of 4-0-43-0, while a lot of fans anticipated he could have ended with much better performances on his debut for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His lackluster performance with the ball helped Punjab Kings to finish on 191/5 batting first.
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However, coming at No. 8, what Thakur did after coming to run chase was nothing short of outrageous. In the 15th over, bowled by record-breaking signing Sam Curran, Shardul picked up a good length delivery and timed it so perfectly that the ball sailed over deep mid-wicket with grace.
Here is the video of the shot from Shardul Thakur:
However, the rain stopped play when KKR required 46 off 24 balls, but they lost the game as they were seven runs behind via DLS method and PBKS started their campaign with a win.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan (Impact)
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Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, V Iyer (Impact)
Commentators were surprised to see Shardul Thakur pulling off something like that, and the netizens had the same epic reactions as well all over the place. Even Curran, the Player of the Series in the last T20 World Cup in Australia, could not believe what just happened against him.
What a shot by Lord Shardul first up #PBKSvsKKR
— John Wright (@johnwright15) April 1, 2023
SHOT! SHOT of the IPL.
Shardul has just short arm jabbed Sam Curran over midwicket for a six. Incredible Lord.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 1, 2023
Shardul Thakur, WTF ? What was that ? Unreal shot on first ball.
— Right Arm Over (@RightArmOver_) April 1, 2023
Wtf ….. Shardul Thakur just repeated this… Probably better. pic.twitter.com/JetIWdlSpi
— ∆ 🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) April 1, 2023
Thakur smacking English Shardul Thakur ? Sign me up.
— Stephen (@albatrosscric) April 1, 2023
Shardul brother. Best shot of the two matches so far. 😂
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) April 1, 2023
That, from Shardul, is the shot of the tournament so far.
— Aaditya Narayan (@AadityaN_28) April 1, 2023
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