IND vs SA: I Love Shardul Thakur To Bits - Aakash Chopra

Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra stated that the bowling all-rounder, Shardul Thakur, has been extremely impressive and is basically doing what everybody expected all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, to do.

Thakur has been redefining the definition of an impact player, scoring crucial runs and taking wickets whenever he is given the ball. In the second Test in Johannesburg, Thakur took 7/61 to record the best-ever figures for an Indian on South African soil.

“Shardul Thakur is doing what we were expecting from Hardik Pandya, honestly speaking, for a lack of a better example. We were repeatedly looking towards Hardik, that he will bowl and score runs with the bat.“

“Of course, there is no comparison between Shardul and Hardik’s batting. Hardik is way above Shardul in terms of batting but there is commitment, he is scoring runs. Shardul’s bowling is much better than Hardik’s. Important runs, important wickets, and totally entertaining. I love Shardul Thakur to bits,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Rishabh Pant let the team down – Aakash Chopra

Chopra went on to mention the irresponsible nature of Rishabh Pant’s batting, stating that he let the team down on Day 3. Pant threw his wicket away to Kagiso Rabada at the worst time and let India sink further after an excellent start to the day.

“It was an irresponsible shot. Yes, he is 25, he is young, he has got the X-factor, he is someone who all of us want to invest in; he has scored runs in tough conditions, a crucial knock in Australia, the best perhaps an Indian cricketer has played in a long, long time. His keeping has improved leaps and bounds but there is no excuse for a shot like that. He let the team down,” Chopra assessed.

Day 4 is yet to begin as rain has washed out the entirety of the first session. The weather forecast for the final day is also grim but both teams will be itching to get out onto the field.

Also Read – IND vs SA: This Is Something He Had Not Done In Australia – Sunil Gavaskar On Rishabh Pant’s Dismissal