Shardul Thakur picked up a dream seven-wicket haul as India bowled out South Africa for 229 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Introduced late into the attack on day two after bowling just one ball on Monday, Thakur ran through the hosts’ batting line-up with figures of 7 for 61 after Keegan Petersen struck a fine half-century before lunch.
Data check: With stunning 7-for, Shardul Thakur registers best Test figures for India against SA
Thakur, bowling at brisk medium-pace on a responsive pitch, twice broke promising partnerships by the South Africans and then followed up by dismissing the more dominant partner as well.
South African captain Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen put on 74 for the second wicket and seemed to be taking control after surviving a challenging first hour against the bowling of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
But then Thakur had Elgar caught behind for 28 and Petersen caught at second slip for an impressive 62.
He added a third wicket when Rassie van der Dussen was caught behind for one in the last over before lunch.
Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne put up a good partnership and Thakur accounted for them too, before finishing with wickets of Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi.
Here are some reactions to Thakur’s bowling performance:
Congratulations to @imShard on picking up 7 wickets with his steady bowling and variations. Good support by the others.#SAvIND
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 4, 2022
Lion-hearted display by Shardul Thakur. Best figures by an Indian against South Africa, thoroughly deserved his seven wickets for persistence and intelligence. Has single-handedly brought India back into the second Test. Over to the batters now. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Jn5oN0Aen0
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 4, 2022
Shardul…. What an effort, a piece of fine craftsmanship! #SAvIND #Shardulthakur
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) January 4, 2022
Got to admire Shardul Thakur. Love players with that kind of attitude. Captain's dream.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 4, 2022
I solemnly swear that I will never use the term "Lord" ironically ever again. #MakesThingsHappen #SAvIND
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul Thakur fifer 🔥 what a game changer! The first fifer of his Test career! #SAvIND
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul and team India believe in fair play. That's why Lord never bowls to new batsmen, he's only brought on once there is a partnership and the batsmen are set. Lord still gets them out though 😄 #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
All those yrs of taking a train daily from Palghar to Mumbai to practice in "maidaans" is reaping Shardul Thakur rich rewards.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) January 4, 2022
For those not familiar with Palghar, let me put it this way: it's closer to Gujarat than Dadar.
Always a wonderful story when perseverance pays off.
Four-wicket haul at Gabba and seven-wicket haul at Johannesburg by Shardul Thakur in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/rvrTtmsVKw
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 4, 2022
Update 😮 pic.twitter.com/ADPWAT9NiL
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) January 4, 2022
Blessed to have witness today 🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/eIYpskagsa
— Complan Gael (@__ImPK) January 4, 2022
We joke a lot about Lord Thakur's luck but his debut lasted 10 balls in a match in which Umesh took a 6-er against Windies at home.. Had to wait for more than 2 years..
— Harisankar (@harish_staycalm) January 4, 2022
There are two kinds of people:
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) January 4, 2022
1. Wow Shardul!
2. We, sports journalists, scratching our heads on what to write about the whys and hows of Shardul.
Oh Lord! That's a 7⃣! 💛#SAvIND #WhistlePodu 🦁
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) January 4, 2022
The lord is spitting fire at the bull ring 🔥 @imShard #IndianCricketTeam #SAvsIND
— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 4, 2022
Shardul
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) January 4, 2022
Shardul
Shardul
Shardul
Shardul
Shardul
Shardul!
What a day for the lord!
Kya baat hai @imShard 🙌🏽#SAvIND
Cricket analysts go unemployed when Shardul Thakur takes the field
— Sonali (@samtanisonali1) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul Thakur.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) January 4, 2022
My vocabulary is too limited, my thinking process too conventional, my knowledge too restricted to describe him.
You may try. Beyond my scope.
Hitting Six is #LordThakur 's love with the bat but hitting a 'Super7' with the ball is something he will forever be proud of, especially where and when it came! Congrats @imShard #INDvsSAF #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/oo7GMnIukh
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 4, 2022
Brief Scores:
India 1st innings: 202 all out in 63.1 overs. (Mayank Agarwal 26, KL Rahul 50; Duanne Olivier 3/64, Marco Jansen 4/31, Kagiso Rabada 3/64).
South Africa 1st innings: 229 all out in 79.4 overs (Keegan Petersen 62; Shardul Thakur 7/61).