Shardul Thakur records the second-best match figures by an Indian player at Brisbane

Shardul Thakur picked up four wickets on Day 4 of the fourth and final test match at Gabba. Along with Mohammed Siraj, Thakur helped the visitors bundle out Australia for 294 in their second innings. In Australia’s first innings, Shardul Thakur scalped three wickets giving away 94 runs. His match figures in both the innings are seven wickets for 155 runs. This is now the best performance by an Indian bowler at the iconic venue over the last five decades.

Veteran off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna held the record for the best match figures by an Indian bowler at Brisbane. Prasanna had match figures of 8 for 218 in the year 1968. He picked up two wickets in the first innings and 6 in the next of that game.

Shardul Thakur has become India’s second-leading wicket-taker at the Gabba after the legendary off-spinner Prasanna. Mohammed Siraj picked up a five-wicket haul, giving away 73 in Australia's second innings. He has scalped six wickets in both the innings at the venue. Siraj could manage one wicket in Australia’s first innings, but the later bounced back and achieved a fifer. The seamer has now joined the elite list of bowlers who have picked six wickets at the historic stadium. The list includes Bishan Singh Bedi, Madan Lal, Ishant Sharma and Rusi Surti.

Shardul Thakur’s all-round performance impressed everyone

Brought into the squad as a replacement, Thakur impressed everyone with his all-round performance. Thakur grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He scalped wickets of Marcus Harris, Tim Paine and Cummins in Australia’s first innings to help India by scoring an excellent knock of 67 runs.

In response to Australia’s 369 run target, the visitors were struggling at 186 for 6. However, the lower order pair recorded seventh-wicket partnership of 123 runs. It was Thakur and Sundar who rescued the men in blue. Shardul Thakur scored nine boundaries and two sixes in his knock and helped India reach 336. The young debutant Washington Sundar also contributed with 62 runs. The hosts have now set a massive total of 328 runs to win the fourth and final Test. Both the teams are levelled at 1-1. It will be interesting to see which team battles it out to grab the trophy.

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