I know the importance of stepping up my game in the absence of senior bowlers: Shardul thakur

The Indian cricket team led by the stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma registered their second victory by defeating the host Sri Lanka team by six wickets in the fourth T20I match of the Nidahas Trophy. With that spectacular win, India has climbed to the top of the table with four points and a healthy net run-rate to its name in this tri-nation contest. The main architect of this victory in a T20I match against the Lankans was fast bowler Shardul Thakur who trenched the opposition in his terrific spell in which he claimed 4 wickets.

I knew I had to step up my game in the absence of regular bowlers

The Lankans began things in an explosive manner in the T20I match against India striking 15 runs off Jaydev Unadkat’s opening over of the game. However, a rather inexperienced Indian bowling line-up brought back things in their control courtesy stunning fast bowling from Thakur who led his team’s fightback and reduced the hosts at 152-9 in the rain-curtailed fixture. Thakur revealed he is aware of his responsibilities as a spearhead of this Indian bowling attack in the absence of the regular bowlers who have been rested for this tournament. The Mumbai fast bowler also mentioned having performed this leading role many times in his domestic career.

“I have told one thing before: I love challenges. I am taking it as a challenge.” “If other senior bowlers are missing from the team, then I have to step up. I have done this previously for other teams that I have played for. I have come in place of Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni, and Ajit Agarkar while playing for Mumbai (in Ranji Trophy). I had to step up in that role. When senior bowlers are rested, I have to step up and fill that role to lead the pace attack,”  said Shardul on gaining confidence on the international stage as quoted by Mid-day.

The Lankans should have reached 165 to 170

He also shared some insights about his recently used variation ‘the knuckleball’, which is a slow delivery that makes it difficult for the batsmen to time their shots to perfection. The paceman mentioned that regular picking up of wickets in the middle overs which stopped the Lankans from reaching a fighting total to which they looked destined in the powerplay overs stage of the game. The wickets at the end piled down the pressure on the opposition team which led to their downfall.

“[Zaheer] did it actually, but I didn’t watch much of his videos. I always knew what the grip was, and then I learned it on my own. “I have been practicing it for a long time. It didn’t come easily. Whenever I found time to play with the white ball while playing domestic cricket, I used to try knuckleball. Probably for two years, I have been practicing it now,” revealed the fast bowler on the knuckleball delivery.

“The way they (Lanka) were going, they would have scored at least 165 to 170 but we got Upul (Tharanga) out when he was coming hard at us. Thisara then came in and hit a few boundaries. So I think those crucial 2-3 wickets kept coming and we were probably able to cut down the total by 15-20 runs,” concluded the new spearhead of Indian fast bowling.