[Watch] CSK's Shardul Thakur Gears Up For IPL 2024 With Valiant Ton In Ranji Trophy SF
Thakur completed his century with a magnificent six [X.com]
At a nervous juncture of the Ranji Trophy semi-final game between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu, Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur came to Mumbai's rescue. With seven down for 106 runs, Thakur rebuilt the innings and slammed a resilient hundred to guide his side back into the high-pressure knockout game.
The Ranji Trophy semi-final game between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu kicked off on Saturday at BKC ground in the city of dreams. Tamil Nadu was put under pressure with an early batting order collapse, and the visitors were bundled under 150 runs.
While Mumbai counted themselves as favourites, Tamil Nadu fought back with clinical resistance with the ball. Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shreyas Iyer's collective failure jeopardised Mumbai as, at one stage, the hosts were 106/7.
With hopes dying down, Shardul Thakur, India's established all-rounder, walked out for a rescue operation. He put together a 100-odd runs partnership with Hardik Tamore for eight wickets and continued to bat at a 100+ strike rate.
With four maximums and 13 boundaries, Shardul Thakur slammed a heroic maiden first-class century to successfully avert a complete collapse. He breached the milestone with a classy and authoritative six down the ground.
The dugout and the batter were equally pumped as Shardul had pulled off the unthinkable. His celebrations reflected on his hunger and passion for the game.
That being said, Thakur's century came at a crucial juncture in the match, as Mumbai found themselves in a precarious position early on. Thakur held firm at the crease with wickets tumbling around him, showcasing his ability to absorb pressure and capitalise on scoring opportunities with confidence and composure.
Moreover, this heroic inning will be a major boost for the all-rounder, who has been sidelined from the international scene for a while now.
Despite notable performances with the bat and the ball, Thakur has struggled to match international cricketing standards.
Regardless, with his latest knock in a high-pressure knockout game of the Ranji Trophy, Thakur made a statement that he still has the spark to thrive at the highest level of the sport.