Shardul Thakur, Indian National Cricket Team,
Shardul Thakur celebrates a wicket with his teammates (Credits: BCCI)

Playing his first One-Day International since August 2017, Shardul Thakur could not have asked for a better outing against South Africa. The right-arm pacer was brought into the playing eleven in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the sixth ODI. He fully justified the decision.

The 26-year old Shardul, who had taken just one wicket in his first two ODIs, finished the game with the figures of four for 52.

Thakur began the game by taking the big wicket of Hashim Amla. The Mumbai star made the Proteas veteran edge one behind the stumps for 10. Thakur went on to finish the innings in a fitting manner by taking a brilliant catch off his own bowling. He bowled a knuckleball on a back of a length on off which Andile Phehlukwayo could only edge to the right of the bowler.

There was still a lot to be done to convert the chance into a wicket and Thakur rose to the occasion. He dived to his right and took a brilliant catch.

https://twitter.com/AlauddinKhilj10/status/964510158012366848

Shardul Thakur’s catch ended the Phehlukwayo’s promising knock and South Africa’s innings. Phehlukwayo scored 34 as the Proteas were bundled up for 204.

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