Shardul Thakur is fighting for a spot in the India Squad for World Cup but his place is not certain in the team. Despite being an able all-rounder Team India is preparing for specialists. The Men in Blue are keen to select 7 batters, 7 bowlers, and 1 all-rounder, i.e Hardik Pandya and that has left Shardul’s participation in World Cup as a big uncertainty.
“I always think about wickets whether it is the first over or the last,” Thakur told Hindustan Times. “I believe that wickets are game-changing. I may concede a four but if I can get a wicket, it can make it easier for other bowlers. So, everyone has a certain role to play in a team. Right now, I am looked at as a bowler who will go after wickets.”
Shardul is continuing is practice in full force and is keen to grab his chance to feature for the Men in Blue in the upcoming big tournament. While he has the knack of taking wickets at crucial junctures of the game, it is not enough to get his spot in the 15-member squad. At most, he can be one of the standby players in the 18-member lot.
India’s pace attack is almost finalized. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj will spearhead the pace attack while Hardik Pandya will slot in as the fourth pacer in the squad. This leaves Shardul is a bit of a bother.
Since India has slow and turning pitches, under no condition will Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid go for a fifth pacer in the team. Thakur is capable of laying big shots and finishing the innings for his country but that doesn’t make the cut.
With Hardik Pandya as a floater in the middle order and Ravindra Jadeja as the designated finisher in the team, there leaves no spot for Thakur in the Playing XI. But that is not the end of the world, as Thakur continues to carry on his practice and is keen on punching above his weight to secure his spot in the team.
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“I am not someone who has played 50 ODIs and 50 T20Is. Even in the last IPL, I didn’t bat much,” Thakur said. “With more opportunities, you will see me deliver more and more with the bat. My bowling has helped my batting. I can guess what a bowler is likely to bowl. My confidence comes from the effort that I put in to bring my A-game to the table. I prepare hard. With the ball too, whether I am asked to be the third seamer or a frontline seamer, I am ready for it.
“I am a confident guy. If I make it to the team, I will be the happiest person. Everyone wants to lift the World Cup. Right now, we have some time off to train hard. I have started preparing already,” Thakur said.
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