Shardul Thakur Reflects on India's Memorable Test Series in England

Shardul Thakur Remembers the Thrilling 2021 Test Series

As India gears up for an exciting five-match Test series in England, the memories of the exhilarating 2021 tour remain fresh, particularly for Shardul Thakur, who was instrumental during that series. The previous encounter between these teams in the longest format concluded with a 2-2 draw, with Thakur shining in the fourth Test at the Kennington Oval, where he helped India clinch a remarkable 157-run victory.

Now rejoining the Indian squad, Thakur reminisces about that unforgettable series.

“The 2021 series was special for us, as we managed to win a couple of matches. We could have won the first Test too, but rain disrupted our chase on the final day. We triumphed at Lord’s and then again at the Oval. The series ended in a draw after the fifth Test was postponed to the following year. It remains one of my most cherished memories in cricket,” he shared.

At the Oval, Thakur delivered an exceptional all-round performance when India needed it most. Coming in during a tough situation, he scored a quickfire 57 off 36 balls in the first innings, providing crucial momentum. He followed this with a counter-attacking 60 off 72 in the second innings and took two important wickets, including that of then England captain Joe Root, during the hosts' chase.

India took a 2-1 lead after their victory at the Oval, but the fifth Test was postponed due to COVID-19 and played the next year, where England emerged victorious, leveling the series at 2-2.

Reflecting on the distinct challenges of playing in England, Thakur noted, “Playing here is always thrilling. The weather can be unpredictable—sometimes cloudy, sometimes sunny—and you have to adapt your game quickly, whether batting or bowling.”

Thakur expressed optimism about the revamped Indian squad heading into this series, particularly with the inclusion of several young talents.

“It’s refreshing to have new energy in the team. The emergence of young players is always exciting. England is also adopting a different style of cricket, but we see this as an opportunity to surprise them. We aim to deliver an impressive performance. Winning an away series is incredibly special, and achieving this would be monumental for our nation,” he added.

As India embarks on a new journey in Test cricket following the retirements of legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, players like Shardul Thakur will play a crucial role in maintaining continuity, experience, and strength in challenging overseas conditions.

India Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.