I had a small niggle but I’m back to bowling and hopefully will get the job done: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur was recently named in India's 15-member squad that will be up against Australia in the finals of the World Test Championship 2023. The Indian all-rounder has been a wicket-taker whenever he had been given the ball in hand and more often than not he has certainly delivered. But lately, in the ongoing IPL 2023, he has not contributed much with the ball for his franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders. 

As fans were eager to know why he had not been bowling, breaking the silence, the 31-year-old all-rounder said that he had a small niggle which has eventually gotten better. He stated that he has regained his bowling form as well and will bowl if the team needs him. He also said that the KKR team is full of all-rounders and nowadays even skipper Nitish Rana pitched in to bowl a couple of overs. 

“We have a side full of all-rounders with (Andre) Russell, Sunil (Nairne)... We have got a maximum of eight bowling options that also includes Nitish (Rana) who also bowls an over or two nowadays. I had a small niggle, so I didn’t play a few games, when I came back, I didn’t bowl as I was not bowling fit. But yes, now I’m back to bowling and hopefully, whenever I get the ball, I will get the job done,” Thakur was quoted as saying by MyKhel.

The challenge in modern-day’s cricket is that you have to manage your body to stay fit: Thakur

The star Indian all-rounder is likely to feature in the playing eleven, considering the conditions in which Team India will be playing and also keeping in mind the performance that Thakur has previously put up in overseas conditions. He also explained that fulfilling the role of an all-rounder in modern cricket is not that easy as it takes a toll on the body.  

“It is difficult and not easy. It’s difficult in the sense of body-wise because when you go in for practice, you literally have to do everything -- fielding practice, bowling, and batting. On top of that, you have to do a bit of running around to stay fit. Overall, it’s not easy but yeah that’s the challenge in modern-day’s cricket that you have to manage your body to stay fit and keep going,” Shardul concluded.