Indian bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur took his first five-wicket haul in Tests during the second Test against South Africa taking place at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
South Africa seemed to be running away with the match on Day 2 as Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen built a valiant partnership for the second wicket. They kept the Indian bowlers at bay for over 90 mins in the first session, before Thakur had a say.
He took three wickets in a short spell before Lunch which brought India right back into the game. Elgar, Petersen, and Rassie van der Dussen all fell to the 29-year-old as South Africa went into the break at 102/4, still trailing India by 100 runs.
After the break, a sturdy fightback from Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne saw the hosts get comfortable once again. It was Thakur once again who was needed to break the partnership as he dismissed both Bavuma and Verreynne to complete his five-wicket haul.
With that, he registered his career-best figures in Tests, bettering the one he took at the Gabba. It was the sixth different bowler from India to take a five-wicket haul at the Wanderers. Having missed out with the bat, Thakur managed to contribute quite effectively with the ball and Twitterati were quite elated with his performance.
Here are a few reactions to Shardul Thakur’s five-wicket haul:
Lord Shardul and team India believe in fair play. That's why Lord never bowls to new batsmen, he's only brought on once there is a partnership and the batsmen are set. Lord still gets them out though 😄 #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul Thakur coming out of dressing room : #INDvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/lGyQdEfjsA
— Lucky ❤️✨ (@LBerojya) January 4, 2022
SA batters facing charged up Lord Shardul today 😆 Well bowled @imShard 👊🏼 #SAvIND #LordShardul pic.twitter.com/jZqGOGSnZ1
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the bowler with the first fifer of 2022. 👏
Lord Shardul! 😍#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/gOR23w4npv
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) January 4, 2022
Review Lord Shardul's wicket only if you want to watch your dismissal twice on the pitch.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul Thakur fifer 🔥 what a game changer! The first fifer of his Test career! #SAvIND
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 4, 2022
Why Pietersen is looking at the sky when Lord Shardul is in front of him pic.twitter.com/Egz92RgqFq
— Sudhanshu Ranjan Singh (@memegineers_) January 4, 2022
The whole world believes in Lord Shardul Thakur Supremacy. pic.twitter.com/qM8q4r4SFb
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 4, 2022
"You guys are history!!!"
– Lord Shardul, Wanderers, 2022— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul having a dream run in Test Cricket from Gabba.! Delivered when it indeed required.!Lord Shardul getting better day by day.!
— Deep Point (@ittzz_spidey) January 4, 2022
A 5-WKT haul for @imShard 👏👏
This is his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Live – https://t.co/b3aaGXmBg9 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/jAfTaC2hwd
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 4, 2022
The lord is spitting fire at the bull ring 🔥 @imShard #IndianCricketTeam #SAvsIND
— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 4, 2022
Shardul Thakur turning out to be a gem of cricketer with the bat or with the ball he is creating a match winning impact. #BCCI #INDvSA
— Sandanapandi (@Sandanapandi3) January 4, 2022
How does shardul do this time and again? Wow.. #SAvIND
— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) January 4, 2022
Gabba Test: Lord Shardul let Siraj take his maiden 5 wicket haul
Johannesburg Test: Siraj got injuried so that lord Shardul could take his maiden 5 wicket haul 🤝 friendship 🤝#LordShardul #Shardulthakur pic.twitter.com/M8fe8Cybbn— VIKAS THAKUR (@VikasThakur020) January 4, 2022
India sleeps well when Shardul plays well. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/Mr9n1CN2Yf
— Aumbeti Roydo (@roydoaumbeti) January 4, 2022