Virat Kohli Posts Brilliant Compliment In Marathi For Shardul Thakur After His Heroics In Cuttack

Shardul Thakur, on Sunday, showed that he is more than just a typical tail-ender by playing a fine match-winning cameo in the third ODI against West Indies in Cuttack. India beat the visitors by four wickets to clinch the three-match series 2-1. The Men in Blue had their task cut out when West Indies finished their innings on a commendable 315 for 5 in the allotted 50 overs.

Asked to bat first, Shai Hope (42) and Evin Lewis (21) gave West Indies a fine start by adding 57 runs in the opening partnership. The visitors, however, were struggling to score quickly before Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard took charge. By the time the 25th over ended, West Indies had only managed to put 94 runs on the board.

But Pooran and Pollard made sure West Indies get a good total to defend. While Pooran slammed 89 off just 64 balls, Pollard smashed 74 from just 51 balls. In reply, India crossed the finishing line with quite ease in the end. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli scored fifties to lay the foundation for the big chase.

Also Read: Watch: Virat Kohli Pumped Up As Shardul Thakur Takes Sheldon Cottrell To Cleaners

India were comfortably placed at 188 for 2 before suffering a mini-collapse and finding themselves reeling at 228 for 5. But Virat Kohli held firm from one end and put India on the brink of the win. By the time he was dismissed for 85, India needed only 30 runs from 23 balls. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur then did the rest.

While Jadeja played the role of the anchor, it was Shardul Thakur who went for the kill. The game turned completely in India’s way when Sheldon Cottrell came to bowl the 48th over with the hosts needing 22 from 18 balls. The first two balls went for three runs before Shardul Thakur hit Cottrell for a six and a four on the third and fourth ball respectively. India eventually collected 15 runs from the over and sealed the win in the next over.

Praise for Thakur:

Shardul Thakur, who went for 66 runs with the ball, made amends with the bat by blasting 17 from just 6 balls. And as the game ended, Kohli made sure to compliment his teammate. The India captain took to Twitter to post a selfie with Shardul Thakur and write a compliment for the latter.

Kohli wrote: “Tula maanla re Thakur” which is a Marathi phase and roughly translates to “Maan gye tujhe Thakur or I bow down to you Thakur”.

Tula maanla re Thakur ??? @imShard pic.twitter.com/fw9z3dZ8Zi

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 23, 2019