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2022 would not have started on a better note for Shardul Thakur as the Mumbai-born player grabbed his first fifer in the Test format. Nicknamed 'Lord', Thakur was instrumental in restricting South Africa to 229 as he ended with seven wickets in the innings, his best bowling figures across formats. In a video posted on bcci.tv, Thakur spoke about his nickname 'Lord' and when it started to become a trend.
"Seriously don't know who started calling me Lord. But I'm sure it started in a home series against England after we returned from Australia... Just before the IPL. It was a series, where I got a lot of success and mostly after I got two consecutive wickets in an over... From there the name arrived," 30-year-old Thakur said.
"When I enter the ground, everything is about self-belief and confidence for me. I go in with full confidence. It's a simple and small mantra for my success and I would like to continue with that. I was just trying to put the ball in the right spot. The wicket was doing a bit and God willing I got a seven-for. Very happy to have contributed for the team," the ‘Palghar Express’ added.
While Thakur had no idea where the nickname came from, India's star bowler in the Johannesburg Test will now try to apply the same in the second innings as he attempts his first 10-wicket haul. His heroics restricted the Proteas lead to mere 27 runs, while India made a good start in the second innings on Day 2 despite losing two wickets. At the end of Day 2's play, the visitors were 85/2 with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane launching a counter-attack.
Thakur could be more than handy for India as they attempt their first Test series win on South African soil. Team India currently leads the three-match Test series 1-0 with a win in the Boxing Day Test match in Centurion. If India do manage to win the contest they will also gain significant points in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC). The Proteas are yet to register a point in the current WTC cycle.
