Shardul Thakur takes the train; wins hearts in the process

India pacer Shardul Thakur, until his four-wicket haul against South Africa, rarely made the news. However, the bowler from Palghar, a suburban city of Mumbai, is making lots of news for his latest action for which he is being hailed as a humble guy. After his return from South Africa, the 26-year-old pacer went to his hometown Palghar via a Mumbai local train, in the first class compartment. For an international star who is given the best of facilities not just during traveling, but also lodging and everything else, such a humble route home is winning hearts.

From Andheri to Palghar

Shardul, who was sold to Chennai Super Kings for 2.6 crores in the recent IPL 2018 auction, prefers taking a train home, which is a 1.5-hour journey from Andheri, where the Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport is.

“This time I boarded the train in Andheri after getting off the flight from South Africa. Straight from business class to first-class. I had my headphones on and just wanted to get home soon. They say the boy who used to travel with us is now playing for India. But I could sense people in the compartment looking at me and wondering whether I really was ‘Shardul Thakur’,” media reports quoted him as saying.

When he was forced to give up his jersey number

A few months ago, the same Shardul was slammed by fans for being arrogant to don the no. 10 jersey, which is supposed to be retired as it was worn by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Despite the bowler’s clarification that he had chosen the number 10 for his jersey due to numerological reasons, it was told that he disrespected Tendulkar, and eventually, he was forced to give up the jersey number.

However, his latest act, that of not just travelling by the local train but also buying the ticket at the counter by himself, is winning hearts on social media.

Here are the best tweets: