Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said that Shardul Thakur hurt the opposition’s heart by taking important wickets. Thakur played a key part in India’s first ODI win against West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. The visitors won the thrilling contest by three runs to draw the first blood in the series.
India posted a par score of 308 runs on the board after Nicholas Pooran won the toss and decided to bowl first. However, the tourists received solid competition from the home team as the Nicholas Pooran-led side came in the closing distance of snatching the victory.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur took two crucial wickets to play a huge role in India’s win. Thakur, who is known to break partnerships, dismissed Kyle Mayers. The left-hander had scored a fine knock of 75 and he was threatening to take the game away from the visitors.
Furthermore, Thakur dismissed Sharmarh Brooks, who scored 46 runs. Ergo, Thakur got wickets of well-settled batters and played an instrumental role in India’s win.
“Lord Thakur has some powers that he picks up wickets. There was a partnership between Shamarh Brooks and Kyle Mayers. But then you got wickets, not one but two, and who takes those wickets, who dismisses Brooks and Mayers – Lord Thakur. Did those wickets fall on deliveries that deserved a wicket, may not be the case,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.
But Thakur conceded 54 runs in eight overs and he was a bit expensive in his spell. Thus, Shikhar Dhawan decided not to complete his quota of 10 overs.
“One was slightly a wide delivery and the other one was slightly short. Shikhar Dhawan didn’t give him the full quota of overs in this match, he was stopped because he was proving very expensive and it didn’t seem that he will pick up wickets, but it is not about what it seems, Shardul hurts the opposition’s heart,” said Chopra.
“When the opposition team came to bat, then Siraj at the start. Siraj Miya is doing very well, he is brilliant. The bad times Shai Hope is going through, he continued that further, he got out early. Yuzi Chahal, of course, a couple of wickets,” said Chopra.
India and West Indies will take on each other in the second ODI on Sunday.
