Shardul Thakur Reveals The Story Behind Taking The Review Against Jonny Bairstow

While Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers on day one of the first Test against England in Nottingham, Shardul Thakur’s and Mohammed Shami’s roles were equally significant. Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami shared five wickets between them to bundle England out for 183. Meanwhile, Thakur revealed the story behind taking the review against Jonny Bairstow.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root had notched up a significant stand of 74 after England found themselves three down below 100. It seemed like the duo would steer the home side past 250 in the first innings. However, Mohammed Shami struck on the last ball before lunch to dismiss Bairstow for 29. Though there was plenty of deliberation over the review, the tourists finally took the DRS.

Replays indicated that there was no bat involved and Bairstow was pinned on the crease. Hawk-eye revealed that the ball hit middle and off, middle and leg, making it plumb. England lost their fourth scalp at 138 and collapsed dramatically after that. Jasprit Bumrah, who took the first wicket, also snared the final one to restrict the opposition to 183.

Virat needed to hear from at least two men that the ball struck the pad directly: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur revealed that the story behind taking the review was Mohammed Shami telling Virat Kohli that the ball hit the middle of the stumps. While confusions loomed, Shardul, standing at mid-on, felt the ball hit the pad directly. While most players were against the review, Virat needed two people’s opinions to go for the review. Hence, the skipper took it with one or two seconds left.

“Before we took the review, there is a small story behind it. Mohammed Shami told Virat Kohli that the ball hit the middle of the stumps, but there was confusion. I was standing at the mid-on at the same time and I felt there was no bat-pad; however, everyone was against the review. Virat needed to hear from at least two men that the ball struck the pad directly. I already reckoned that was out; thus, Virat took the review when one or two seconds were left,” Thakur told in a video uploaded by BCCI.

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