ICC World Cup 2023 | Shardul Thakur - Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis
Shardul Thakur stats in ODIs (OneCricket Design Team)
The World Cup 2023 is just a week away. It is set to take off on the 5th of October, 2023, with a repeat of the last edition's final. England and New Zealand will take on each other in the first game, allowing us to recollect the enthralling final from four years before.
As the cricket-crazy nation of India is being engulfed by the fever of the tournament, we at OneCricket are analysing each member of the Indian squad. The top five batters and the two all-rounders have already been analysed. Now, it is time to shift the focus to the next player in the probable XI of the team, Shardul Thakur.
Shardul has been included in India's plan for the World Cup 2023 because he provides extra depth in the batting. Skipper Rohit Sharma seems more comfortable having a bowler who can bat in the team than an outright bowler. This is why Thakur has been getting a nod ahead of a genuine wicket-taker like Mohammed Shami.
Shardul Thakur Player Profile
Shardul Thakur came into the mainframe of Indian cricket after his gutsy show with the ball in IPL. He was a part of the Rising Pune Super Giants team in 2016 and then was snapped by Chennai Super Kings. Thakur showed a good knack for picking up important wickets in the two seasons and caught the eyes of Indian selectors.
In the international arena, Thakur struggled to leave a mark immediately. He was initially seen as a stop-gap option, but after his fighting knock in the famous Brisbane Test, Shardul became a point of discussion.
Since then, the Indian team management has used him as a bowler who can add depth to the batting line-up. However, he has a knack for performing with both the bat and the ball under pressure, making him a unique asset for the team.
Shardul Thakur Records
While Shardul was not initially part of the World Cup 2023 plans, his ability to bat has made him an integral part of the team ahead of the major event.
Thakur has played 44 ODI matches so far. In these matches, he has batted in 25 innings and has scored 329 runs at an average of 17.32 and a strike rate of 105.11. Thakur also has a half-century under his belt, his highest score being 50 not out against South Africa.
With the ball, Thakur has picked up 63 wickets at an average of 30.35 and a strike rate of 29.17. His economy has been a bit on the higher side at 6.24.
Shardul Thakur Batting Records
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Avg | Batting SR | 50s/100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 44 | 329 | 17.32 | 105.11 | 1/0 |
Shardul Thakur Bowling Records
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Avg | Economy Rate | Bowling SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 44 | 63 | 30.35 | 6.24 | 29.17 |
Shardul Thakur SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Composure under pressure
More than once, Shardul Thakur has shown that he has a cool head under pressure. His batting abilities came to notice when he played a gutsy knock against Australia in the Brisbane Test. After this, he played fighting knocks under pressure in England too.
Barring his show with the bat in the Test, Thakur has also played a couple of fighting knocks under pressure in the ODIs. With the way India have gone about in the multinational tournaments in recent times, there might arise a situation during the tournament when this pressure-handling ability of Thakur comes into play.
Knack for picking up wickets in important stages
Be it IPL or international cricket, Thakur has repeatedly shown that he can pick up wickets in important stages. Whenever the team needs to break a partnership, Thakur usually puts up his hands.
The fact that the batters take him as a bowler to be taken advantage of to score runs acts in favour of Thakur. This ability of Shardul will be a real asset for Team India during World Cup 2023.
Weakness
Bowling lose deliveries in the middle of a good spell
The biggest concern with Thakur is his economy. He is often being taken to the cleaners by the opposition batters.
The problem with Thakur is that he is prone to bowling a couple of loose balls in the middle of a good spell. This not only damages his bowling figures, but it hurts the team as a whole, too. The team management will try to work on his discipline and how he controls his line and length during the crunch games of the tournament.
Opportunities
Establishing himself as a permanent member of Team India
The World Cup 2023 is the biggest stage where Shardul can establish himself as a permanent member of Team India. If he can deliver with the bat and the ball in this tournament, there will be no way the team management will think of dropping him.
The team management is trying to use him as a bowler who can be handy with the bat. As a result, if he stands up to the team management's expectations during the major event, Shardul will encroach his name in the Indian scheme of things for the next few seasons.
Threats
Injury scare during a lengthy and major event
India has been waiting for 12 years to get their hands on a World Cup trophy. The wait might get over in 2023, as the team as a whole looks concrete. But Thakur will be playing a significant role if India have to win the tournament.
With Shardul playing such a pivotal role, his injury proneness will be a significant threat. He has suffered from some major injuries before, and if it hits him during the tournament, it will be a significant setback to India's plans. Hence, India must manage Shardul's workload wisely during World Cup 2023 to keep him from injury.
Player Ratings
Batting Rating
Playing Pace: 7/10
Playing Spin: 6.5/10
Temperament: 8/10
Hitting Skills: 7.5/10
Range: 6.5/10
Bowling Rating
New Ball Skill: 7/10
Middle-Over Bowling Skill: 6.5/10
Death-Over Skill: 6.5/10
Wicket-taking Ability: 8/10
Experience: 7/10
Overall Rating: 7.05/10
 "Probuddha Bhattacharjee")
