Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Shardul Thakur after the fast bowler bowled a match-winning spell of 4-36 against Punjab Kings at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Monday.
DC had posted a fighting score of 159 runs, which was maybe 10-15 runs short of a par score.
However, Thakur bowled at the top of his game to restrict Punjab Kings at 142-9 and thus helped his team win by 17 runs. Thakur dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the last over of the PowerPlay and it tilted the game in favor of the Delhi Capitals.
The fast bowler from Mumbai was smart in his bowling variations and played a key role in his team’s win.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “It has to be Lord Thakur. Cometh the hour, cometh the Thakur. The first over was critical, it was the sixth over – Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, he dismissed both of them in one over. If we see from Sholay’s era, Thakur and Gabbar don’t get along. Gabbar loses this fight and Gabbar lost to Thakur this time as well.”
The pitch was assisting the spinners and Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav did a fine job for Rishabh Pant as the spin duo conceded 28 runs in their seven overs and picked up four wickets.
“It was a pitch on which you were going towards your spinners for wickets and in such a case if your fast bowler gives you two wickets – clap your hands. Nortje had given one wicket earlier, Axar and Kuldeep were to come, it was known that they will pick up wickets but Shardul picking up wickets I think was incredible.”
After bowling a fine sixth over, Thakur returned to get the big wicket of Jitesh Sharma, who was threatening to take the game deep. Furthermore, he dismissed Kagiso Rabada with a slower delivery.
“Actually his bowling was there in two phases. It was not that he was not expensive, he gave 36 runs in his four overs but picked up four wickets, his best ever IPL figures.”
“At the end, when it seemed that Jitesh Sharma will do the genie job, nothing happened. He (Thakur) dismissed him as well, a good catch from David Warner. Then Kagiso Rabada hit a six and he dismissed him as well. He kept the match in his grasp with the four wickets and helped Delhi win.”
Delhi Capitals will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday.
