I always love challenges: Shardul Thakur

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Shardul Thakur took four wickets against Sri Lanka on Monday. Image Source: BCCI

XtraTime Web Desk: Shardul Thakur took 4 wickets on Monday where India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to go on the top of the table in Nidahas Trophy. The Men in Blue has brought a second string team as their most of the top bowlers aren’t playing in this tri-nation series. Thakur is taking this as a challenge. He thinks that if the other senior bowlers are not there in the team, he has to step up to prove his worth.

“I have told one thing before. I always love challenges. I am taking it as a challenge. If other senior bowlers are missing from the team, then I have to step up. I have done this previously for other teams that I have played for. I have come in place of Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ajit Agarkar while playing for Mumbai. I had to step up in that role. When senior bowlerd are rested, I have to step up and fill that role to lead the pace attack,” said Thakur at the post match press-conference.

Shardul gave 27 runs in the first game against Sri Lanka, but after that he has improved a lot and in this game he took 4 wickets and co-incidentally gave just 27 runs. According to him T20 is nothing but a surprise game where anything can happen in the middle.

“If you see, in Twenty20 cricket, you have to be ready for surprises. The first game was an eye-opener for us. I got hit for 27 runs, there were some other overs that went for 15 runs. I felt that the game against Bangladesh and this game, we executed our plans better,” told Shardul.

At one stage Sri Lanka were in a very good position and going well to post a total around 165 to 170, but regular strikes from the bowlers changed the game into India’s favour feels Thakur.

“The way they were going, they would have scored 165-170. However, we got Upul Tharanga out. He was looking to go hard at our bowlers. Then Thisara Perera came and hit a couple of boundaries. I got him out and then those crucial two-three wickets restricted them. I would say they were 20-25 runs short,” told Thakur.