In recent times, Indian pacer Shardul Thakur has turned out to be a very good bowling option for the ‘Men in Blue’. Not only is he appreciated for his bowling, but also known for his batting. Despite being a talented bowler, Shardul is notorious for leaking runs. His performance in the first T20I also did not do justice to his reputation for conceding massive runs. He went for 44 runs in just three overs.
He was selected in India’s playing 11 in the second T20I against New Zealand. However, Twitterati did not seem to be happy with this decision and voiced their opinion on him.
One user wrote, “Guy Like Shardul Thakur never disappoints he always plays for the team ….I mean for New Zealand #INDvsNZ”.
Guy Like Shardul Thakur never disappoints he always plays for the team ….I mean for New Zealand #INDvsNZ
— Sai (@akakrcb6) January 26, 2020
Another added, “If I was the DJ, I would have started playing Hanuman Chilasha in low volume whenever Shardul came in to bowl.”
If I was the DJ, I would have started playing Hanuman Chilasha in low volume whenever Shardul came in to bowl.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 26, 2020
“Kane Williamson with a very, very brave call to bat first. Then again, nothing to hold candle to the bravery of Virat Kohli, who continues to play Shardul Thakur. #INDvNZ #NZvIND”, added another user.
Kane Williamson with a very, very brave call to bat first.
Then again, nothing to hold candle to the bravery of Virat Kohli, who continues to play Shardul Thakur.#INDvNZ #NZvIND
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) January 26, 2020
One user wrote, “Shardul Thakur has a career at the top level only because he decided to humbly go home by train one day and it got featured on ScoopWhoop.”
Shardul Thakur has a career at the top level only because he decided to humbly go home by train one day and it got featured on ScoopWhoop.
— Aakash Bhatt (@aakashbhatt97) January 26, 2020
Meanwhile, another user said that while everyone is busy blaming Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami is escaping the trolls. He wrote, “#NZvsIND Every one is blaming Shardul Thakur for conceeding runs. Meanwhile Shami:”
#NZvsIND
Every one is blaming Shardul Thakur
for conceeding runsMeanwhile Shami: pic.twitter.com/LFh0Cj1xCf
— Hritik Shekhar (@hritikshekhar) January 24, 2020
I can bet my ass on Shardul’s axing from the XI today had they lost the last game.
Here, backing of players is decided on the back of wins/losses.— navi (@DrogonDracarys_) January 26, 2020
Scorecard prediction
New Zealand 260/9
Munro 130(36)
CDG 80(25)
Williamson 30(45)
Shardul 4-0-100-0
Jadeja 4-0-90-0India 261/7
Rohit Sharma 125(50)
Shardul 62(25)MOM – Dhoni
— (@150pluskph) January 26, 2020
Bumrah bowling after Shardul Thakur is similar to Mom giving you sweets after dad thrashed you earlier in the day.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 26, 2020
When you see shardul Thakur bowling pic.twitter.com/KnXmMsWOCy
— Aditii (@Sassy_Soul_) January 26, 2020
So we’re seeing Shardul Thakur for the final time in the blue jersey today!
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 26, 2020
India managed to win the first match of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand by six wickets after a fantastic batting performance in a high-scoring thriller on Friday.
In that match, Shardul Thakur had gone for 12 runs in his first over, 18 runs in his second and 14 runs in his third over. In the ongoing second match too, he went for two sixes in the very first over of the match. But, he later made up for it by taking the vital wicket of Martin Guptill. However, he ended with a not-so-great economy of 10.50 in two overs.
It is to be noted that in December last year, Twitter had lauded Thakur for his all-round performances in India’s 2-1 series win over West Indies. They also backed Thakur to receive a life-time contract from BCCI.
Shardul Thakur has had a modest career so far for India. He has taken eight wickets in eight ODIs, while in T20Is he has 15 wickets in 11 T20Is for India. His performances in the IPL led to him being selected in the Indian squad. He has 36 wickets in 36 matches in the IPL.