Shardul Thakur on rescue act: 'I enjoy batting in tough situations

Photo: PTI

At the Sharad Pawar Academy in Mumbai, around 200 spectators gathered to watch the exciting match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir. Most of the crowd was there to see stars like Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in action. However, as the morning unfolded, they were left disappointed when both Rohit and Yashasvi got out early. By the time Mumbai's score read 47 for 7, things looked grim for the team, with only a little over an hour passed in the first session.

It was then that Shardul Thakur stepped up. Known for his calmness under pressure, Thakur played a stunning knock of 51 runs from just 57 balls at number 8. He put together a crucial 63-run partnership with Tanush Kotian for the ninth wicket. Thanks to their efforts, Mumbai managed to cross 100 runs, a vital recovery in tough conditions.

Jammu & Kashmir's fast bowlers, Umar Nazir Mir, and Yudhvir Singh, made things difficult for Thakur. The ball was swinging and challenging his technique. Thakur was lucky to survive two lbw appeals, but when the bowlers offered him some width, he attacked. Thakur has been in such difficult situations before. Three of his four half-centuries in Test cricket came when India was in trouble. One of those half-centuries was the second-fastest fifty for India at the time.

Thakur showed his skill when he pulled Yudhvir’s delivery over midwicket for four, bringing up his half-century. He finished with a quick-fire 51, earning applause from the crowd, including several office workers who were enjoying a lunch break. However, his joy was short-lived as he was dismissed, caught out at long-on. Mumbai was bowled out for just 120 runs.
After the day's play, Thakur shared his thoughts: "I like batting in difficult situations. It's easy to perform when things are going well, but it’s how you respond when the situation is tough that matters. I see these challenges as opportunities to prove myself."

But Thakur wasn’t done yet. He returned to bowl in the second innings, taking the new ball. He had a close call for lbw in his first over against Shubham Khajuria, but the umpire turned it down. Thakur didn’t give up. In his second over, he found Khajuria's outside edge, but Shreyas Iyer failed to take the catch at second slip. His breakthrough came when he dismissed Abdul Samad, who was caught behind, breaking a crucial 58-run partnership between Samad and Khajuria.

By the end of day one, Thakur had helped keep Jammu & Kashmir's lead to just 54 runs, with three wickets remaining. He was Mumbai's most economical bowler, giving away only 29 runs in his 13 overs. This performance was a big improvement compared to his recent outings in white-ball cricket. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Thakur had been Mumbai's most expensive bowler, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he went for over six runs per over.

Thakur also spoke about the tough T20 and one-day tournaments Mumbai had played earlier, where fast bowlers were challenged by early help for pacers, especially in the morning. "In such conditions, any bowler can get hit," he said, "because the pitch becomes flat after lunch, and top bowlers can be expensive. You can't judge a bowler based on those conditions. Cricket is full of ups and downs, and you have to stay focused on the present."

Looking ahead, Thakur and Mumbai's goal is to fight back and stay in the contest in this crucial Ranji Trophy match. Their hope of a comeback is alive thanks to Thakur's all-round performance, proving that even in the toughest situations, his skills shine.

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