Outside Eden Gardens, a crowd gathers everyday when the Mumbai players board the coach taking them to the hotel after the day’s play. Mostly, they chant the names of SuryakumarYadav, Shivam Dube and Ajunkya Rahane. Amid the noise, largely unnoticed, this player quietly makes his way towards the coach. Some recognise him. Most do not.
Shardul Thakur chose the right moment to make his presence felt. With national selector Shiv Sundar Das watching from the VIP box, the medium-pacer dismantled Haryana in this Ranji Trophy quarter-final. Resuming the day at 263/5 in reply to Mumbai’s 315, Haryana were all out for 301. Thakurclaimed all the wickets to fall on the third morning to finish with figures of 6/58. It helped his team seize the first-innings lead and the control of the match. At stumps, Mumbai were 278/4. Sith two days to go, this match in their grasp.
This incisive spell came at the right moment for the India discard. He doesn’t have an IPL contract this season and RanjiTrophy is his last opportunity to impress the selectors before the five-Test series in England starting in June. The team is desperate for a fast bowler who can bat. Although NitishKumar Reddy did well in that role in Australia, he can’t do what Thakur does with the ball.
“I can only stay in the present and plan for the future,” Thakursaid after the day’s play. “When I am playing or practising, other thoughts don’t cross the mind. But when I am alone, it’s difficult not to think about these things. So, it’s essential to train your mind in such a manner that you focus only on the job and not about the outcome. I am trying to do that. I believe I am still in national reckoning. My job is to keep performing in whatever I am playing.”
This pitch at Eden Gardens offered nothing to the fast bowlers after the first hour and-a-half on opening day. The new ball was hardly effective during that period on Day 2 and it was no different on Monday. Thakur himself was below-par a day earlier and consistently bowled incoming deliveries to the right-handers despite having four fielders in the slip-gully region.
He was different bowler after bagging a wicket with a bouncer in the first over of the day. The second new ball was taken as soon as it became due eight overs into the morning. Thakurwas spot-on with his out-swingers from the word go. His first ball with the new ball caught the edge and was taken by the wicketkeeper. Another edge was caught at first slip two ballslater. The last two batters were trapped in front of the stumps by deliveries that moved back in.
Out-swingers, off-cutters and bouncers — Thakur displayed a wide range of variations and skills. More than that, he showed a big heart by giving his best for his team on an unresponsive pitch. After gallant nineties by Shams Mulani and TanushKotiyan, his role in Mumbai occupying the driving seat was immense. Such performances in knockout games carry additional value.
Thakur has played 11 Tests and the last one was against South Africa in Centurion in December 2023. He was successful in England with the ball and the bat in 2021. With all the proper India all-rounders being spin bowlers, someone like Thakur is what any team would like to have in English conditions. He can be the ideal person in the role of a third or fourth seamerwho can contribute with the bat. In fact, he saved India from trouble as a batter on multiple occasions.
The 33-year-old is in form too. In the ongoing Ranji season, he is Mumbai’s fourth highest run-getter with a tally of 396 from nine innings at 44.00 with a century and three fifties. As usual, most of his runs came when the team was under pressure. He also has 30 wickets with an average of 21.10. Thakur has done what was in his hands. Now, he will hope that this gets noticed.
Brief scores: Mumbai 314 & 278/4 (Ajinkya Rahane 88 batting, Suryakumar Yadav 70) vs Haryana 301 (Ankit Kumar 136, Shardul Thakur 6/58).
Last-wicket stand snatches one-run lead
In Pune, an 81-run last-wicket stand between Salman Nizar(122 not out) and Basil Thampi (15) gave Kerala a crucial first-innings lead against Jammu & Kashmir. The two came together at 200/9 and took the team past the opposition’s total of 280. It’s not over yet. Jammu & Kashmir withstood some early blows to reach 180/3 at stumps.
Brief scores: J&K 280 & 180/3 (Paras Dogra 73 batting) vsKerala 281 (Salman Nizar 122 not out, Auqib Nabi 6/53).
Advantage Vidarbha vs Tamil Nadu
Karun Nair fell for 29, but Vidarbha reached a strong position against Tamil Nadu in Nagpur. After bowling out the visitors for 225 and taking a lead of 128 runs, the hosts reached 169/5 in the second innings. They lead by 297 runs and it will be a tough chase for Tamil Nadu in the fourth innings.
Brief scores: Vidarbha 353 & 169/5 (Yash Rathore 55 batting) vs Tamil Nadu 225 (Aditya Thakare 5/34).
Gujarat take decisive lead against Saurashtra
Centuries by Urvil Patel and Jaymeet Patel put Gujarat on top against Saurashtra in Rajkot. In reply to the home team’s 216, Gujarat made 511, for a decisive lead of 295 runs. Saurashtrawere 33/0 in the second innings.
Brief scores: Saurashtra 216 & 33/0 vs Gujarat 511 (UrvilPatel 140, Jaymeet Patel 103, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 5/120, Chirag Jani 4/67).