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Why Shardul Thakur Must Deliver Big In This World Cup Given His Huge Potential

image-lnwtlp0cShardul Thakur (Twitter)

Things are already shaping up quite well for the hosts, Team India. Ishan is making runs when the chance arrives. Rohit is hammering them. Kohli is in a league of his own. 

The captain has actually led from the front and struck the fastest one day ton ever by an Indian in the fifty over format. Afghanistan may never forget their Delhi hammering until quite some time. Right? Jadeja’s been among the wickets. Maybe, not unfair to say his dismissal of Steven Smith in India’s nervy run chase was brilliant and perhaps the highlight of our team’s bowling performance. The sort of wicket that just broke the back of a mighty order. 

Moreover, Siraj and Kuldeep have been upping the ante of pace and spin, respectively. 

Now, if there’s one missing piece in the Indian jigsaw that’s yet to fall into the part to make it a complete, wholesome picture, then whom do you reckon it is? Shardul Thakur, maybe? 

Probably? Possibly? Actually definitely. Born in Palghar, known all over in India and branded the ‘lord’ wherever there’s common knowledge that cricketing talents from India have sobriquets as well as records, Shardul is his own man. 

He holds a one day batting average of 17, but he can change the complexion of a game from down the lower order. He once played a Test in England where on a wicket where Anderson was unplayable, Thakur punched the English wine of a bowler off the back foot to the cover boundary only for Anderson to remain transfixed on the stroke. Two years back in the day, playing the opening one dayer of the three match series in South Africa, Thakur actually outscored Pant, Iyer and Rahul in making a dogged 50 that came off just 43 deliveries. 

It was, in terms of its impact, lightening and thunderbolt; just that the valiant effort from down the lower order didn’t have enough legs to help India evade a sad 31-run loss. There are things that other Indians wearing the blue can do and some that this mild-mannered man sporting the innocent smile can. He’s a partnership breaker, a wicket taker, the one who’ll win you sessions in Tests and up your morale amid pressure in a key one dayer. And yet, his stats in the white ball game don’t quite do justice to his enormous potential. How’s that though? 

Active since 2017 on the Indian cricket circuit for national white ball duties, Shardul is yet to actually touch 400 one day runs. Even as his strike rate can’t be chided one bit; how can it, when it’s north of 100? However, that’s not the real issue, if issue is the term that could be used in a more than lukewarm sense for the all rounder. While unfortunately he didn’t get to bat a bit in India’s rather one sided win over arch rivals Pakistan, Thakur went for 12 having just bowled 2 overs. 

A game earlier, he took 1 wicket against Afghanistan in the run-feast at New Delhi. But what’s happened, has happened. It’s still a long tournament ahead. There are many games to go. On his part, Thakur would like to really come to the party and take some big or early wickets. His 64 one day scalps from just 46 one dayers inspire a lot of confidence and impart a lot to many Indian cricket supporters.   

That slower delivery. The nice knuckle ball. The seam movement. He’s got them all. Hopefully, more to come to India’s party to play his humble and quiet part as he so often does. The reason to believe he could really come good for his team is that in 2023 alone, Thakur has picked 20 of his 64 ODI wickets at a notable average of 24.6. It’s the year where he also collected his best bowling figures in one day cricket: 4 for 37. 

Can a fifer come through for India’s cause in what lies ahead?