Australia cricket legend Mark Waugh didn’t mince words when he criticized Shardul Thakur during the second ODI against Australia. Thakur had a forgettable performance in the match, remaining wicketless and conceding 35 runs in his four overs of bowling.
While Team India has been performing well in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, questions have arisen about middle-order firepower. This has brought Shardul Thakur into focus, especially after his impressive showing in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. However, Thakur failed to make an impact in the first ODI, going wicketless and proving to be expensive in Mohali.
India, in the second ODI, amassed a massive total of 399 runs after Australia asked them to bat first. Due to rain interruptions, Australia faced a challenging target of 317 runs in 33 overs according to the DLS method. Prasidh Krishna took advantage of the early swing and quickly dismissed two Australian batsmen. Australia were on the back foot early at 9/2.
In such a dominant position, it was crucial for India’s bowlers to maintain the pressure and capitalize on the situation. Unfortunately, Shardul Thakur couldn’t live up to expectations, failing to trouble the Australian top-order. This disappointing performance prompted Mark Waugh to criticize Thakur, labeling him a ‘bits and pieces’ cricketer.
Team India has chosen Shardul Thakur as a member of its 15-player squad for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, commencing on October 5 in India. Thakur made his debut for the national side in 2017 and has played 68 games in limited-overs formats. Despite being known as the ‘Golden arm’ for Team India due to his knack for taking breakthroughs, he has had a more significant impact in red-ball cricket.
In Test cricket, Shardul Thakur has played a pivotal role in some of India’s most memorable victories, including a historic series win against Australia in their own backyard. He also contributed significantly to a series win in England. With 10 Test matches under his belt, Thakur has had a short but impressive career in the longest format of the game.
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