Getting Joe Root In The 60s, Or 90s Or Early, Is Always A Good Wicket To Have: Shardul Thakur

Indian pacer Shardul Thakur justified his selection well enough on the first day of the opening Test against England in Nottingham. Shardul Thakur made key strikes in crucial junctures of the game, playing a significant hand in bowling the home side out for 183. The right-arm seamer, who got rid of Joe Root, cherished the wicket.

Shardul Thakur threatened the England batsman from his first over and got two of his wickets in his 11th itself. The 29-year old made a massive breakthrough as he returned for a fresh spell and trapped Joe Root plumb on front. The England captain, on 64, did not even bother reviewing. In the same over of the fourth delivery, Thakur removed Ollie Robinson as well as he departed without scoring.

While Thakur contributed with a couple of scalps, Jasprit Bumrah snared four, followed by Mohammed Shami chipping in with three. India predictably finished their day on a high as they went into the dressing room unscathed, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul surviving 13 overs to finish at 21-0. Sam Curran, who delivered only one over, looked the most threatening; however, James Anderson and Stuart Broad could not make the openers play much.

Enjoying the Dukes ball and English conditions: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur stated that removing Jonny Bairstow when he looked on track for a fifty, followed by dismissing Joe Root for 64 were crucial strikes. The Palghar-born cricketer highlighted that the pitch did not look like it would turn a lot; hence, India went with four seamers. Thakur revealed to enjoy the English conditions and the Dukes ball, feeling excited about the summer moving forward.

“Bairstow was poised well to score a fifty so getting him out at that period was crucial. And to get Root, in the 60s, or 90s or early, is always a good wicket to have. If we look at the pitch, it didn’t feel like it would turn a lot so better to go in with four seamers. Enjoying the Dukes ball and English conditions, good preparation in Durham, good idea of how this summer will be, and it’s a good one for us,” Thakur stated after the first day’s play.

Also Read: Joe Root Leapfrogs Alastair Cook To Become England’s All Format Leading Run-Getter