Despite featuring in historic overseas wins in Brisbane and Oval, the bowling allrounder feels he hasn’t got his due
LUCKNOW: Shardul Thakur made his Test debut for India way back in 2018 but has played just 11 Tests. The lack of opportunities has left the 32-year-old bowling allrounder wondering what wrong he has done.
When he thinks about being in and out of the national side, there are no clear answers considering the performances he has put in with bat and ball at No.8.
Mostly used as the fourth pacer, especially in overseas conditions, he doesn’t get as many overs as the lead bowlers and while batting down the order, one is always in danger of running out of partners. But within those limitations, Shardul has managed to deliver when called upon.
“One must get those many opportunities as well to stamp himself. There are people who have got 70-80 games and then suddenly you say ‘he is a brilliant player. He has done well for India’ but the fact is he has got 70-80 games for India. I have been part of the Indian team for the last seven-eight years, but how many games have I played? So whatever limited opportunities that I have got, I have given my best. Sometimes it happens for me, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a team sport. I perform with the help of teammates, and I also fail with the help of teammates,” said Shardul on the eve of the Irani Cup.
It will be his comeback tournament after undergoing ankle surgery post the IPL in June, followed by a three-month rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru.
Shardul has never backed down from a challenge and relishes it when things get tough. “I’m passionate about this sport and more than that I look forward to challenges. That’s what gives me a high when I’m playing. It’s very easy to say I have performed well in easy conditions, but when you are playing against the best and the situation is challenging, if you are able to bail your team out, that determines what kind of a player you are. I look for such opportunities,” he said.
If you look at his numbers in overseas Tests, one can understand why he is feeling aggrieved. Of the 11 Tests he has played, nine have been in Australia, England, and South Africa, and most of his 331 Test runs, including his four fifties, and his 31 wickets, have come while playing in one of those countries.
His first overseas Test was the historic victory at Brisbane in 2021 which helped India win the series 2-1 and where he scored a crucial 67 in the first innings and took seven wickets in the match.
In the same year in England, he featured in two Tests and scored two fifties-57 and 60-in the Oval Test which India won by 157 runs and gave them a 2-1 series lead. In 2022, he scalped 7/66 against South Africa in Johannesburg and in the 2023 WTC final against Australia, he scored 51 in the first innings which kept India in the game before eventually losing. He last featured in a Test for India in December 2023 against South Africa at Centurion before he was dropped for the second Test at Cape Town.
Irani Cup and the Ranji Trophy matches will be crucial for Shardul to prove his fitness and put his hand up for a spot in the team for Australia. With Hardik Pandya reluctant to play in the longest format and Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube failing to impress in the Duleep Trophy with their all-round skills, the Mumbai boy will be tipped to clinch the bowling allrounder’s slot if he puts in notable performances in the coming matches.
“I think (we) India (have been) using that combination (fourth fast bowling allrounder) in overseas conditions in the past few years. At times, I have done well at No. 8. Batted well in pressure situations. I have bowled well as well…taken crucial wickets for the team. I’m really looking for the upcoming tour of Australia,” said Shardul.
He added: “But yes, right now the focus is on the Irani Cup game. First few Ranji games as well. I’m playing after a long time, so my entire focus must be on these games. But subconsciously, yes…the Australia tour is also on my mind. It is one place where conditions are challenging, and the crowd is always involved in the game. It’s a tour that a player would like to look forward to.”