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Dhawal Kulkarni still remembers the advice Zaheer Khan had for a youthful Shardul Thakur. The former India left-arm leader had told Thakur that if he’d intentions of playing at a advanced position, he’d have to reduce his weight and get fitter.
The youth took those words to heart. He was 83 kg at that time, but had got 13 kg lighter by the time he returned to the Mumbai dressing room a many months latterly, Kulkarni recalls.
Piecemeal from getting important slimmer, Thakur’s station towards the game had also changed. He came more eager and aggressive in pursuing his thing of playing for the country. “ His station took him to a different position. The intensity with which he sailed his first over was also visible in the final session. A fast bowler needs an station and he should have high intensity to coliseum with the same passion every time. Thakur has all that,” Kulkarni says.
Zaheer, who was playing Ranji Jewel for Mumbai also, handed more advice and inputs for the forthcoming bowler. He told Thakur about the different demands placed on a fast bowler in each session of play. He also tutored him other little tricks of the trade – suchlike changes in pace and the judicious use of the bouncer.
Indeed before the world knew about Thakur, Zaheer had prognosticated that he’d play for India one day.
So when Thakur took seven lattices against South Africa in Johannesburg on Tuesday, those close to him were n’t surprised. They feel Thakur’s belief sets him piecemeal. Childhood friend Siddhesh Lad still remembers what the medium leader formerly told him during a high- profile Mumbai academy game. “ Bade match mein perform karna important hai, chhoti platoon ko maar ke kya faida? (It’s important to perform in a big match. What’s the use of beating a small platoon?)”
Thakur’s rise has been gradational in transnational justice and he’s the one who’ll insure that his presence is always felt, indeed with the club in Australia and England. Lad believes Thakur always tries to ameliorate his game and learn new effects, noway shirking hard work.
“ He’s the joe who’ll raise his hand when the situation is tough. He’s the joe in the dressing room who’ll talk about taking on any batsman in the world. Similar effects motivate him and he likes to take on those better than him,” Lad explains.
