Tendulkar praises joint man of the series Sam Curran, calls him a ‘smart thinker’

It was his first Test series but 20-year-old Sam Curran showed a lot of character. The young cricketer came up with match-influencing performances in the series and shared the man of the series award with Indian captain Virat Kohli. However, one of his biggest praises came from none other than Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Curran played four Tests in the series and England won each of those four. In seven innings, Curran scored 273 runs and took 11 Indian wickets in eight innings to announce his arrival on the big stage. What was particularly spectacular about his show is his batting efficiency down the order. Twice in the series, he bailed out his team as a batsman coming out in the lower order and hitting fifties and on both occasions, England won games that they did not seem favourites to initially.

Tendulkar congratulated England on their series win, their third consecutive since 2011; wished opener Alastair Cook who quit after the series and Curran who he called “the standout player” of the series and a “smart thinker”.

Congratulations, @englandcricket on winning the Test series. #AlastairCook, wishing you an even better post-retirement innings. #SamCurran has been the standout player of this series. Smart thinker. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/gy4Aqg3onT

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 12, 2018

One-Test old Curran won it for England at Edgbaston

Curran was just one-Test old when he took the field at Edgbaston for the first Test but played a match-turning knock of 63 in the second innings when England were on the ropes. He also took a four-for in the first innings to help England gain a crucial 13-run lead over India. Son of former Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran, Sam was adjudged the man of the match in that game after England won by 31 runs.

Curran was dropped for the third Test at Trent Bridge but it was more out of accommodating too many in-form players. England lost that match by 203 runs.

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