According to Aakash Chopra, Shardul Thakur’s spot as India’s fourth pacer in the team for the forthcoming World Cup 2023 may have already been secured.
On Tuesday, August 1, in Trinidad. The Men in Blue defeated the West Indies by 200 runs in the last match of the three-match ODI series, with Shardul recording figures of 4/37 in 6.3 overs. In the three ODIs, the seam bowling all-rounder took eight wickets at a respectable economy rate of 5.31.
Chopra expressed his opinion that, ahead of the West Indies series, a seamer’s spot in India’s World Cup squad was up for grabs. He declared:
“You should give Lord Thakur a lot of praise. Since the 2019 World Cup, Lord Thakur has taken the most wickets for India in ODIs. The availability of space for the World Cup is a plus. Who can replace Muhammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj as the fourth fast bowler?”
The former Indian opener elaborated on his belief that Shardul Thakur might have edged Umran Malik to that position:
“Umran’s ODI series against the Windies was unimpressive. In the first two ODIs. He failed to pick up a wicket and let up 44 runs in his six overs. He was therefore benched for the third and final ODI.”
Aakash Chopra on what makes Shardul Thakur’s successful: “Lord Thakur is not just about wicket-taking luck”
Shardul Thakur’s accomplishments cannot be solely credited to luck, according to Aakash Chopra, who further explained:
“Lord Thakur is more than just a case of lucky wicket-taking. He is extremely effective with both the bat and the ball for a variety of significant reasons. The first is just tremendous self-confidence. He is struck, but he undoubtedly takes wickets. He takes wickets because he has the guts to bowl balls that will take wickets.
The well-known pundit noted that the Palghar-born bowler thinks of himself as a hybrid of the greatest all-rounders and seamers in cricket history, noting:
He has so much confidence: “If you give me the ball, it doesn’t matter who is playing in front of me, what sort of partnership has been stitched, and what the conditions are, I will deliver and take a wicket.” He is a combination of Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, and Kapil Dev.
Chopra emphasised that despite the possibility of being hit for a six. Shardul continues to bowl bouncers in an effort to get wickets. In order to persuade the hitters to play drives and be bowled or caught leg-before-wicket in the process. The right-arm seamer is also willing to bowl full deliveries, he continued.
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