Shardul Thakur Lifts Mumbai with Maiden First-Class Century in Ranji Trophy Semifinal
Shardul Thakur rose to the occasion with a captivating century, rescuing Mumbai from a precarious position in the ongoing Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Thakur’s unbeaten knock of 109 runs, coming off just 104 deliveries, proved to be the turning point in the match, as he single-handedly shifted the momentum in Mumbai’s favor.
“I relish these situations,” said Thakur, expressing his delight in his impactful performance. “When you play with passion, you wait for these moments to make a difference.”
With his team in a difficult position, Thakur felt compelled to take charge, highlighting the importance of stepping up during challenging moments.
“When the team is struggling, you want to lift them up with your performance,” he explained. “You want to contribute something substantial in the middle order that can alter the course of the game.”
The 32-year-old all-rounder displayed an attacking mindset, contrasting it with the cautious approach of the top-order batsmen.
“We were a bit too conservative in the first session,” Thakur admitted. “The pitch was offering minimal assistance today, and I felt the batsmen needed to express themselves more freely.
Sometimes, in crucial matches, being hesitant can lead to losing wickets. It’s better to play with freedom, and that’s the approach I had when I went out to bat.”
This vital knock also holds significance for Thakur’s future aspirations, potentially marking the beginning of a series of centuries to come.
“It’s quite surprising, considering I used to bat at number 10 or 11 for Mumbai earlier in my career,” shared Thakur, reflecting on his long journey to his maiden first-class century. “I had to work hard and climb up the batting order.”
Mumbai were in a precarious position at 107/7 and it looked like the difference between two teams’ score will not be greater. However, some resistance from Hardik Tamore followed by Thakur’s 109 and Kotian’s 89 allowed Mumbai to post 378.
“When I started playing for India, I was promoted to number 8, and only then did Mumbai give me the opportunity to bat at the same position. Hopefully, this will be the first of many more centuries, and it underlines the importance of promoting all-rounders in Mumbai cricket,” he concluded, advocating for a shift in the team’s batting strategy.
