Delhi Capitals (DC) all-rounder Shardul Thakur explained that there are no injury worries over batter Sarfaraz Khan. The latter did not get a chance to bat even though they lost 5-wickets against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their IPL 2022 game on Sunday. Thakur stated that it was just a tactical move, nothing else.
DC defeated KKR by 44 runs at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. After Prithvi Shaw and David Warner added 93 for the opening wicket, Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant supported himself to Number three. There was no sign of Sarfaraz as Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, and all-rounders Axar Patel and Thakur were sent in ahead of the middle-order batsman.
Thakur said that he was concentrating on the game and went to bat when requested by the captain at a post-match conference. Answer to a Sportskeeda query about Sarfaraz, he said:
“There was no injury concern. I think he was ready to bat since No. 3, but it was just a tactical move from what I guess. The game was going so intense; I personally didn’t care to pay attention to what was happening and what was not. Rishabh just told me that I was next, and I went in to bat.”
The move to encourage Thakur and Axar ahead of Sarfaraz paid off brilliantly as the duo added an entire 49 in quick time. Timely support came to Delhi that lost their way with a few fast wickets. Requested what discussions he had with Axar out in the middle, the all-rounder displayed:
“The pitch was good for batting, but there was a tricky over when we were new to the crease. So, we were careful in that one over. After that, you have to go for the big hits in the last two or three overs. As I said, the pitch was nice to bat on, and we also played some good strokes. So, the talk was basically to bat cautiously for that one over and then go on an all-out attack.”
3️⃣9️⃣ runs in the last two overs 💥
These all-rounders are all we need 😉#YehHaiNayiDilli | #IPL2022 | #KKRvDC #TATAIPL | #IPL | #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/gf3exlRpQO
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 10, 2022
While Axar remained unbeaten on 22 off 14, Thakur hammered 29* in only 11 balls, smacking three well-timed sixes.
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“I have been given additional responsibility in the batting” – Shardul Thakur clarifies his role at DC.
Last season, the 30-year-old versatile player was part of the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) title-winning team. Despite awesome performances, he was released by the franchise and picked by DC at the IPL 2022 mega auction. Requested if he had been assigned any specific role in his new franchise, Thakur answered:
“I have been given added responsibility in the batting; I can tell you that.”
He further said that the role depends on the game condition on the bowling part. He said:
“During their spells, all bowlers are expected to remain dynamic. There is no set pattern as to whether Shardul will take the new ball, bowl the sixth over in the powerplay, or come in at the death. The captain and coach read the situation during the time-outs and then took a call on who would bowl where. Our coach always stresses the point that we should give our best, no what the situation of the game.”
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𝘕𝘢𝘩𝘪 𝘢𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 😉🔥#YehHaiNayiDilli | #IPL2022 | #KKRvDC #TATAIPL | #IPL | #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/Mv8et1naBV— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 10, 2022
The DC cricketer had an unforgettable match against KKR. Apart from performing an impressive cameo, he took a brilliant catch to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane and claimed the last 2-wickets to fall in the game.
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