Pic Courtesy: Xtratime
Debasis Sen, Colombo: Shardul Thakur, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka today, can invite criticisms for all the wrong reasons. The medium pacer from Mumbai was seen spotting jersey Number 10 during the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium. Last time an Indian jersey with No. 10 was worn in an ODI by none other than master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Till date no one was seen spotting the same jersey number before Shardul. Even IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, for whom Tendulkar played has retired the jersey number as a mark of tribute to the legend.
Shardul was handed over the India cap by another Mumbaikar, Ravi Shastri who also happens to be the Team India coach.
The great Sachin Tendulkar last played for India against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dhaka on December 23, 2012. The master blaster scored a brilliant half century to guide his team to victory.
With the five-match ODI series already in the pocket, team Indian team management chose to give chance to players like Shardul Thakur, Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav. The medium pacer has been a part of the Indian squad since 2016 when the Men in Blue toured West Indies. He became the 218th player to make India debut in the 50-over format.
The Mumbai pacer has taken 169 wickets in the first-class cricket. The 25-year old has scalped 55 wickets in the limited over format at the domestic circuit.
So, it can be said that the Jersey No. 10 in the Indian team passes from Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (SRT) to Shardul Narendra Thakur (SNT). Perhaps, as an Indian fan one would hope Shardul does justice to his jersey number.