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‘There Has Been No One Sided Match in India’-Shardul Thakur replies to Journalist

Shardul Thakur has played some eye-catching knocks during his international career for India in Tests and ODIs

As known Shardul Thakur has played some eye-catching knocks during his international career for India in Tests and ODIs. He has managed to take off three half-centuries across formats and adds a much-needed depth to India’s batting order.

Shardul has demonstrated his batting credentials one more time during the tense chase against South Africa in Lucknow ODI where he struck 33 in a 93-run stand with Sanju Samson to keep India’s hopes alive. Further, Thakur gave the example of top teams including Australia and England who bat deep and which at times makes the difference.

“If you see teams who have done very well at the international level, their batting line-up has been quite deep. Australia for instance, they have the likes of Pat Cummins, and Mitch Starc coming at 8 or 9. Even for that matter England. I’ve been focusing on my batting for quite a long time now. batting at no 7 or the one coming at no 9, if they can contribute it’s always great. That gives you a cushion,” Thakur said during a media interaction on Saturday.

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He further added, “We also can have our batting lineup deep and make the difference — the difference of 15-20 runs that can be crucial in winning the match, especially in white ball cricket.”

Indian cricket team’s bowling has come under fire of late but Thakur said it’s unnecessary as the same bowlers too are also leaking runs. “It’s not fair to criticize only the Indians, even their bowlers are taken to the cleaners. We won the T20I series, but they also were slammed,” he said.

“I think before questioning the consistency we should see how the wicket was, the conditions. Sometimes in an ODI match more than 350-runs are scored so in that case every bowler got hit. There has been no one-sided match for India, be it on a batting or a bowling-friendly pitch, most have been competitive. We have won most matches and showed consistency,” he added.

Notably, South Africa overthrew India by 9 runs in the first ODI on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second ODI will be played at the JSCA Cricket Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday.

 

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