With options running out, Rohit Sharma turned to old mate Shardul Thakur for breakthrough
When New Zealand was halfway to their goal of 385 runs, Rohit Sharma looked for bowling options. Washington Sundar was a defensive option, and with New Zealand at 184, he needed wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal, his favourite middle-over option, had just been struck for 15 runs; Kuldeep Yadav had bowled five; and Hardik's six remaining overs should be saved for the death overs. His gaze shifted to Shardul Thakur, who was positioned at fine-leg.
Thakur was a little perplexed when Rohit told him to bowl. His three overs resulted in 30 runs being lost, which is not how he often bowls. Thakur, however, does not back down from a challenge. He used to confront his seniors at the maidan in Palghar when he was a teenager to beat them. He would often be successful. He is the kind of guy who will raise his hand in a crisis, according to his coach Siddhesh Lad, who once informed this newspaper. He is the one in the locker room who will discuss facing any batsman in the entire world. He is motivated by such things and enjoys competing with stronger opponents.
This quality had persisted. With the ball or the bat, throw him into the deep end; he frequently generates something. an improbable victory, an unsightly wicket, when nothing else seems to be working for the team and they are out of ideas and energy. suddenly and without warning. He is known as the team's magician because of this extraordinary talent.
He made it clear to you why. He modified the game in just two balls. He expelled Daryl Mitchell, a homicidal batsman when the mood strikes him, for 24 runs with the first ball of the 26th over. He introduced a bouncer, one of his less common but yet effective balls for surprising batsmen. The batter attempted to hook but was only able to edge the ball to the keeper. Thakur argued for a review because the umpire was still not persuaded, and he was successful when the UltraEdge displayed a spike.
The following ball, he slithered in a knuckleball, one of his favourite variations, to the seasoned Tom Latham. Latham only had time to spoon the ball to mid-off after the ball sank into his pads. Neither delivery was especially difficult to play. simple ones, but they brought him wickets and changed the course of the game. He always seems to be the third seamer, sometimes even the fourth, in red ball cricket, the consolidator after the powerplay in ODIs, and an afterthought in both forms when the primary quicks are there. This has been the constant theme of his career. His abilities appear to be restricted—he is too quick or slippery, he does not produce devastating swing or seam movement, he does not have too many variations—and some may argue that he lacks the talent to truly qualify as an all-rounder.
But in times of need, he almost always does well, offers a glimmer of hope, takes wickets, racks up runs, or scoops up amazing catches. Twice in ODIs and Tests, he captured two wickets in a single over to alter the course of the match, similar to his double strikes in the English summer of 2021. His first-inning scores of 67 in Brisbane (2021) and 60 and 57 in Oval proved to be crucial contributions to two of India's most memorable victories abroad. His 25 was essential in boosting India to 385 in Indore. But despite his match-winning spark, he is still treated as an afterthought and a permanent replacement, much like Parthiv Patel did toward the conclusion of his career when he was often the next best player or the 21st member of the World Cup's core group of 21 players.
He presented a compelling argument for his inclusion, but he felt that more of these performances would be necessary to guarantee a permanent place. While it could be tempting to consider him Hardik Pandya's backup, he has the ability to stake his own claim. His batting offers tremendous depth because he typically bats at No. 8, can smash the strokes—proper cricketing skills, not just swinging the bat—can hang around, and is fearless while chasing, as he previously demonstrated with Chennai Super Kings on a few occasions. He may not have the same power hitting talent as Pandya, but he can score quickly.
He has helpful variants like the yorker, bouncer, and knuckle-ball that he can use with the ball, including the ability to swing with the new ball and later extract seam movement. It has not escaped Rohit's notice. "He has the talent of getting wickets for us at critical moments. Not just in ODI cricket, but also in Test cricket, have we witnessed it. There are so many instances that come to mind where the opposition was forming a partnership before he intervened and saved the day. He is very important to us; we are aware of where we stand as a team and what he brings to the table is crucial, he said following the conclusion of the series in Indore.
He is highly intelligent, has experience playing a lot of domestic cricket, has risen through the ranks, and is aware of what needs to be done, said Rohit.
His decision to bat at No. 8 gives India's batting a tenacious vibe. At this position, the best teams in the world have a batting all-rounder. Sam Curran holds this position for England; Australia Pat Cummins and a fully functional Kyle Jamieson from New Zealand. "It will be difficult for us to find a No. 8, No. 9 who can bat. His bat skills may give us the advantage at No. 8," Rohit remarked.
It's unclear who Thakur would replace in the starting lineup, but there are a few seamers vying for the third spot, none of whom have his batting prowess. Thakur would be content to contribute with occasional flashes of brilliance, sway games, and win man of the match awards rather than stress about missing out on the World Cup. He would say, "I don't think too much because you have to be ready for everything as a cricketer. That describes the man they refer to as the magician.
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