Shardul Thakur has worked his way through domestic cricket and now has the best figures for an Indian bowler against South Africa.
After his spell of 7/61 on Tuesday, the Mumbai boy spoke to the media.
Excerpts:
After today, do you think you will be considered as a genuine bowler who can win Test matches as well?
The team management and selectors believe I am a genuine bowler and I also believe I can play international cricket as a genuine bowler. Whenever I have got a chance, I have tried to do my best and for me Test cricket has always been the purest form and I am happy I am being able to contribute.
Though you have done very well abroad, you get less chances in India because spinning allrounders usually get selected at home. Does that put more pressure on you?
I don’t feel pressure even if I get less opportunities. When you live in a country of 1.3 billion, there will obviously be competition. But I know what needs to be done and when you are playing overseas, the pitches change, the conditions change and you have to keep adapting. For me every game is a different game.
What were the adjustments you made while bowling on this Wanderers pitch?
On this pitch and even in Centurion, there was some help for us. It is about coming hard at the batsman all the time. Today, I figured there was a length from where the ball was kicking and had variable bounce and I tried to hit that spot.
Is this the best that you have bowled?
It is my best figures but my best is yet to come.
You came on to bowl pretty late. Were there any specific plans on your part?
See, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are our strike bowlers and it’s obvious they will bowl first. They bowled well as well and were unlucky not to get the wickets while the luck was on my side today. There can be days when I will be bowling better and they take the wickets, so it happens. I am happy as long as my performance helps the team.
