It is really good of Dhoni that he has helped me: Shardul Thakur

25-year old Shardul Thakur is currently watching the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah make a mockery of the Sri Lankan outfit. Sitting on the bench, the Maharashtra-born medium fast bowler relishes a scenario where he will get to bowl those lethal lines to the likes of Angelo Matthews and co. Something he has been doing consistently for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.

Waiting for the opportunity

He has played 49 matches and picked up 169 wickets at an average of 28.71. He has also bagged 55 wickets in List A games. India having won the series, with 2 more games to go. There is a high probability of Thakur earning the Indian cap sooner than later.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Thakur stressed the importance of grabbing the opportunity with both hands once it’s on offer. “Over the past few years, I have been working hard. Whenever I get a chance to play, I should be ready. Keeping that in mind I always prepare for the game. Whether they play me or not that’s the management’s role, but if you ask me personally, I just have to be ready for the game whenever I get the opportunity and I prepare accordingly,” said Shardul.

The soft spoken pacer played for the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 10th edition of the IPL wherein he got 11 wickets in 12 games. When asked about the difference in approach while bowling in limited overs cricket, Shardul said, “I feel, if you have the skills, you can play in any format of the game. It’s just about your preparations and how you cope up with different challenges of Test cricket, ODI cricket, and T20Is. If you ask me, you have to evolve every time there is a change in the format.

“In white-ball cricket, you need to use a lot of variations when needed. Where as in red-ball cricket you just stick to your plans again and again. You have to keep bowling your stock deliveries. It’s more about patience there. That’s the difference,” he added.

Learning from the leader

Thakur spent a lot of time with MS Dhoni, who kept the wickets for Pune in the IPL. He said that it was a huge boost for him and he got to learn a lot by rubbing shoulders with the experienced cricketer.

“I have learnt a lot from him during the IPL. It was a great boost for me. He is the wicket-keeper of the team so he has seen a lot of bowlers bowling from the other end, and very closely, like what do they do in a particular situation. So, whenever I have felt like finding out things about a particular situation, I have gone to him. I have always done that. It’s really good of him that he has helped me,” Shardul concluded.