Fast-bowling all-rounders are truly difficult to come across in Indian cricket. In terms of role in the team, an allrounder who can bowl with decent pace can create a balance so unique to no other cricketer. Shardul Thakur is amongst the several top names in the country, talking of fast-bowling all-rounders. Thakur has played 11 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is for India, but he hasn’t played for India since December 2023, in South Africa. He was never even a part of the squad during the series against Australia, where India lost 3-1.
Shardul has made good his form for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He picked up 33 wickets at 19.96 and made 402 runs in eight matches. He has opened up regarding the exclusion from the Australia Tour and said he is looking forward to India’s Test Tour of England.
“When I first saw the selected team I went into shock because my name was not there. That was hard, but as professional cricketers, we know that a professional cricketer goes through ups and downs in career. At that given point of time, the thought was that if I had to do something, I should not brood too much on this rejection if I had further intentions-well, that if any opportunities come my way, I should be prepared,” he said in an interview with Revsportz.
“I was not desperate to give extra still, anchored my focus on my basics. If you were to ask me about what makes me special while playing for Mumbai, I would say taking wickets at intervals and performances in knockout situations-all of them are motivations for me, and I think having done those successfully, I’m capable of doing them all over again.”
The team’s focus dramatically changed; it was now on the Champions Trophy, on IPL, and now shifting to this forthcoming England Tour. The motivation was there, so I worked accordingly.”
Shardul Thakur is now gearing up for the England Test Tour for India in June.
“Self-belief and confidence are very high. There is no bigger motivation than playing for your country. If you look at Team India’s combination, whether playing in India or abroad, you always need a bowler who can bat at No. 7 or 8. Earlier, it was explained by how Ravichandran Ashwin played and won many games with the bat as well. Also, Ravindra Jadeja has also shown that capability. I believe I have the skill to deliver for Team India even at No. 7 or 8,” he added.
“Even if I am the third or fourth seamer in the team, I don’t think that makes me lesser than any other. In Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy, I play as a lead bowler, so I am pretty used to bowling with a new ball. Hence if Bumrah is bowling from one end and the Team India captain wants me to start from the other, I am up for it as that is nothing new to me. I think my bowling is versatile enough to suit according to different situations.
Think about T20Is. In matches that I have played alongside Bumrah, I have operated largely in death overs; in Test cricket, I can bowl with both the new and old balls. I think any runs from numbers eight to eleven can be significant for the team. Especially when we are touring England as the away team, those extra runs provide a cushion for the bowlers and, eventually, they become the key difference in a particular game.”
