London: Impressed with Shardul Thakur’s incredible performance in the 4th Test at the Oval, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on the star all-rounder. Gavaskar reckons in Thakur, India have found a player for the long haul, exactly what they needed at no 8 position and lauded him for showcasing top-notch shots while batting.
On the final day of the fourth test between England vs India, Shardul Thakur gave brilliant all-rounding performance. Batting at No. 8, Thakur scored a blazing half-centuries in both innings 57 off 36 balls and 60 off 72 balls. Later with the ball, he returned with figures of 1/54 and 2/22 in first and seconds innings respectively including the important scalp of in form Joe Root in the later.
“Look, at the moment… everything he touches is turning into gold. I mean, some of the shots he played were glorious… the thumping six, the straight drive. They were absolutely delightful to watch. And the confidence with which he batted, you could see. And that was most impressive about him,” Gavaskar said on Sony Sports Network.
That's a BIG BIG Wicket!
It's that man again! @imShard picks up the wicket of Joe Root.
England 7 down.
Live – https://t.co/OOZebPnBZU #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/i8pMKsRfpC
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 6, 2021
Thakur became only the third Indian batsman to score two half centuries in consecutive innings after Harbhajan Singh and fellow teammate Wriddhiman Saha. Along with the former, he also scored the second-fastest half-century in Test cricket for India. Kapil Dev set the record with 30 deliveries against Pakistan at Karachi in 1982. Thakur also added to the tally of records for scoring the quickest half-century in a Test match in England.
“In England particularly, when the ball is moving around, he bowled an absolute beauty of a delivery. It pitched and just left the left-handed Rory Burns, who was batting well. To deceive a batsman with that kind of delivery takes something special and that’s what he produced. And then of course, there was getting Joe Root out. He’s got that ball which comes in and Root, looking to run the ball down point, got that inside edge because the ball had nipped back in,” Gavaskar added.
“He’s contributing with the bat, he’s contributing with the ball. India have found just the player they need for the team at No. 8, definitely in England and perhaps in South Africa as well.” Gavaskar signed off.
