'I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team’s victory' - Shardul Thakur after his game changing knock

At the end of first day’s play at The Oval, the match stands in balance with England at 53-3 in reply to India’s 191. But things could have been worse for India had Shardul Thakur not played a blinder. At 127-7, India were in a dire state before Shardul Thakur led India’s fightback with a blazing fifty. He scored 57 off 36 balls to help India post a semi-decent score. At the end of day’s play, Thakur was asked if the responsibility of scoring runs every time adds to the pressure to which the all-rounder replied that one has contribute to the team’s cause in every possible way.

“You have to take responsibility whether you are a pacer or a batter. If you are playing for India, so whenever you get a chance you have to shoulder responsibility by hook or by crook,” Thakur said “For me, it was a challenge and whenever I get to bat, I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team’s victory,” the Mumbai all-rounder said having already hit a fifty in India’s victory in Brisbane this year.

In an attempt to break the momentum, India made a surprising move and sent Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. Jadeja has been one of India’s most consistent batsmen in the last few series but the move to send him ahead of Rahane and Pant left many baffled. Revealing the thought process of the same, Thakur said the team management wanted to get the left-right combination going.

“You have to take responsibility whether you are a pacer or a batter. If you are playing for India, so whenever you get a chance you have to shoulder responsibility by hook or by crook,” Thakur said “For me, it was a challenge and whenever I get to bat, I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team’s victory,” the Mumbai all-rounder said having already hit a fifty in India’s victory in Brisbane this year.

Thakur reached the 50 in just 31 balls, leapfrogging Ian Botham's record of 32 balls to become the fastest to score a half-century on England soil. Speaking about his knock, Thakur said his coaches always advised him to play straight in England and he tried to do the same which came off.