Shardul Thakur: Focus on Irani Cup and Ranji Trophy games keeping India Tour of Australia in mind

Thakur has been quietly working on his recovery and rehabilitation after having yet another surgery on his right ankle in June.

FILE PHOTO: Shardul Thakur celebrates after scoring a century during the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu. | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu

Shardul Thakur’s uncanny ability to deliver match-winning performances, with both bat and ball, has worked wonders for him and – more importantly – India. But an odd bad day at the office results in him being severely criticised.

Thakur stressed that his performance should be judged after consistent outings.

“One has to get those many opportunities as well to stamp someone. There are people who have got 70-80 games and then suddenly you say ‘he is a brilliant player, he has done well for India’ but the fact is he has got 70-80 games for India,” Thakur said.

“I have been part of the India team for the last eight years but how many games have I played? So, again, whatever limited opportunities that I have got, I have to give my best. Sometimes it happens for me, sometimes it doesn’t. I would say when it doesn’t happen, there are 10 other guys in the team. It’s a team sport. I perform with the help of teammates, and I also fail with the help of teammates, that’s what I will say.”

His presence may go unnoticed, but his absence is definitely felt. With yet another Test tour to Australia approaching, many fans were wondering about Thakur’s whereabouts.

The all-rounder himself had been quietly working on his recovery and rehabilitation after having yet another surgery on his right ankle in June.

Having spent a better part of the last three months at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Thakur is keen to go through the rigours of a five-day game and pace himself for what he hopes to be an arduous season of First-Class cricket across continents.

“It will be my first competitive game, not to take anything away from the league game (in the KSCA Trophy) I played. But that was more of an RTP (Return to Play) for me,” Thakur said after a gruelling net session here, under the scorching sun, ahead of the Irani Cup tie.

“I was just gauging how my ankle is behaving post-surgery in a game where I have to field for 90 overs, stand six hours a day in the field and I was just trying to get that feel of standing on the ground for long hours and when I play this (Irani Cup) game, I will be more confident of understanding my body better.”

Staking a claim for being considered as a pace-bowling all-rounder is definitely on his wishlist.

“At times, I have done well at No. 8. [I have] batted well in pressure situations, I have bowled well as well… taken crucial wickets for the team,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to the upcoming tour of Australia. But yes, right now the focus is on the Irani Cup game and the first few Ranji [Trophy] games as well.

“Subconsciously, yes…the Australia tour is also on my mind. It is one place where conditions are challenging, and the crowd is always involved in the game. It is a tour that a player would like to look forward to,” said Thakur.