Delhi Capitals’ (DC) cricketer Shardul Thakur came up with a stunning all-round performance for the franchise in the 19th match of the ongoing IPL 2022 against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 10.
At Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Thakur played an unbeaten knock of 29 off 11 balls, as well as added 49* runs off just 20 balls with Akshar Patel (22* off 14 balls) to help Delhi Capitals (DC) post a gigantic 215/5 – the highest score of the tournament – against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday.
Defending the total, Thakur snared two wickets while left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav scalped four wickets to restrict KKR to 171 and win the match by 44 runs on Sunday. After the match, the all-rounder said that he and Akshar were trying to save their wickets to help DC post a big total on the board, as the pitch was good for batting.
Thakur said in the post-match virtual press conference: “The pitch was really good for batting. There was one over (18th) which was tricky for us when both of us were new at the crease. In that over, it was necessary to save our wickets and bat carefully. In the last two-three overs, you have to try to get the big hits. With the way the pitch was, we played really good shots (in the last two overs). The talk was to save our wicket for an over and then go for the big hits.”
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He further added, “In T20 cricket, it’s always the impact performances. Wherever I create the impact, it’s going to make a difference, whether it’s fielding, bowling, or batting. I like to give my best in all three departments whenever I am on the field. So, I am happy with my game and whatever comes good on that particular day, I am happy with it.”
Speaking about his role in DC, the all-rounder said: “In batting, (I) have been given added responsibility. As far as bowling is concerned, in terms of bowling spells, all bowlers have to be dynamic as we don’t go as per a set pattern, like Shardul will bowl with the new ball or bowl the sixth over of the power-play or do death bowling.”
Praising Kuldeep Yadav, Thakur said: “I think he has a point to prove to himself. First of all, I don’t know about KKR but in whatever games he has been playing, he’s brilliant and the way he is bowling, he is getting wickets for us and keeping his run-rate in check. So, everything is falling in place at the moment.”
He signed off by saying on batting ahead of Sarfaraz Khan against the KKR, “There are no injury concerns. He (Sarfaraz) was ready to bat since number three but it was just a tactical move as the game was going so intense. I didn’t personally care as to what was happening or not going on. Rishabh told me that you are next to bat and I went in to bat.”
(With IANS Inputs)
