Medium-pacer Shardul Thakur stepped up in the absence of senior fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and recorded his career-best haul of 4/27 that helped India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the Nidahas Trophy 2018 tri-series encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium on Monday. More remarkably, he redeemed himself after being hit for 27 runs in his first over during the opening game against Sri Lanka as the hosts ended their seven-game losing streak in Twenty20s against India.
“I have told one thing before: I love challenges. I am taking it as a challenge,” Thakur said.
“If other senior bowlers are missing from the team, then I have to step up. I have done this previously for other teams that I have played for. I have come in place of Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ajit Agarkar while playing for Mumbai (in Ranji Trophy). I had to step up in that role. When senior bowlers are rested, I have to step up and fill that role to lead the pace attack,” Thakur exuded a lot of confidence.
