In a huge pressure moment for Team India on Day three of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final against formidable Australia at the Oval, pace bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur showcased his resilience and determination by bringing up a well-deserved half-century.
With his brilliant knock, Thakur joined the league of great cricketers like Sir Don Bradman and Allan Border with most consecutive 50-plus scores in Test matches at The Oval. While Bradman achieved the feat in 1930 and 1934, Border made it possible in 1985 and 1989. Now Thakur has joined their league by emulating the feats in 2021 and 2023.
The Indian team had found themselves in a precarious situation with the loss of eight wickets. However, Thakur’s gritty knock provided a glimmer of hope. He struck the half-century with the help of six fours.
Thakur’s knock was not an easy one, especially against the formidable pacers of Australia. The start of his innings was marked by struggles as he found it challenging to connect the ball with his bat. Moreover, he endured a couple of painful blows on his arm, adding to the difficulty of his task. However, the young all-rounder displayed immense character and fought through the tough times to come up with flying colours.